Africa CDC Regional Director Dr. Lul Riek and his team recently paid a courtesy call to the WHO Botswana Country Office to explore areas of collaboration and discuss key priorities in Botswana’s health system. The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of both institutions to strengthening National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) and enhancing coordination in public health responses across the continent.

During the meeting, WHO Representative to Botswana, Dr. Fabian Ndenzako, underscored the importance of deeper collaboration between WHO and Africa CDC in advancing national health priorities. “We really need to come together. WHO handles coordination, and Africa CDC is implementing its mandate. But ultimately, we are supporting the same government,” he said. “We must work in complementarity, not competition, to ensure our efforts contribute meaningfully to country priorities.”

Dr. Ndenzako proposed the establishment of a regular coordination platform at the country level, such as monthly or quarterly forums, to jointly review planned activities, identify synergies, and avoid duplication. He also highlighted the recent joint submission to the Pandemic Fund by WHO and Africa CDC, which focuses on strengthening surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, and the health workforce.

“While the application emphasizes surveillance and health systems, it presents a unique opportunity to align our collaboration and ensure that our support to government is cohesive and well-coordinated,” he noted.
He further pointed out that Botswana’s decentralization of primary healthcare presents both an opportunity and a challenge. “Local levels must be equipped to act as first responders in emergencies. That requires investment in surveillance, laboratory systems, communication, and community engagement,” he emphasized.

Dr. Ndenzako reaffirmed WHO’s support for Botswana’s efforts to eliminate malaria, noting that recent outbreaks have tested the resilience of the health system. “Botswana is well on its way to eliminating malaria, but recent waves have posed a challenge. Our role is to support both outbreak response and long-term prevention,” he said.

Leading the Africa CDC delegation, Dr. Riek expressed strong support for Botswana’s efforts to build resilient, decentralized health systems and praised the country’s leadership as a model for the region. He emphasized the need to put people at the center of all health interventions. Drawing on experiences from other countries, Dr. Riek stressed the importance of readiness for outbreaks such as malaria and cholera. “You may not have faced frequent malaria outbreaks, but now is the time to apply regional knowledge and support to manage this effectively,” he urged.

He also highlighted Africa CDC’s comparative advantage in laboratory strengthening, especially in genomic surveillance, referencing the organization’s role during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the provision of sequencing equipment. Dr. Riek encouraged greater integration of laboratory systems, surveillance, and non-communicable disease (NCD) monitoring to achieve a more holistic public health approach.

Both WHO and Africa CDC acknowledged the current reality of shrinking global resources and stressed the need for evidence-based, efficient, and sustainable public health interventions. “We need to be transparent and pragmatic. Not all planned activities may materialize, so careful prioritization is essential,” said Dr. Ndenzako.

The courtesy call concluded with a shared understanding that the successful establishment and operationalization of NPHIs in Africa requires political will, sustained coordination, and mutual trust among stakeholders. WHO and Africa CDC reiterated their commitment to working together to support countries like Botswana in building strong, responsive, and people-centered public health institutions.