Botswana reaches a significant milestone in fostering the multi-sectoral collaboration to strengthen the One Health approach for health security and resilience.

Represented at the highest level, the four key ministries for the One Health framework in Botswana, namely the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, the Ministry of Local Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, and the Ministry of Health, convened on 24th September 2025 in Gaborone to jointly sign a commitment for the implementation of the One Health National Strategy.

Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and other government officials, including those from the Ministry of Basic Education and Botswana Public Health Institute, representatives of the parastatal organizations and One Health quadripartite (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Organization for Animal Health, and World Health Organization), and other stakeholders and partners were present at this high-level meeting. 

“Humanity is facing unprecedented transformations across every sphere of life. From the rapid pace of technological innovation to the realities of global insecurities and health pandemics, from the instability of international systems to the devastating impacts of climate change, these forces converge as imminent threats to our survival and the delicate balance of our ecosystems.”, remarked Honorable Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin G. Dikoloti. Playing an essential role in advancing the One Health agenda, the former Minister of Health (2022-2024), Dr Dikoloti, aspires to “position Botswana as a centre of excellence for the One Health Approach”. 

Recognizing that the health of people is inextricably linked to the health of animals and the ecosystem, Honorable Acting Minister of Health, Mr Lawrence Ookeditse, pledged to champion the following priority areas in support of the One Health agenda: 1.  A reinforced fight against Antimicrobial Resistance; 2. Strengthening Biosafety and Biosecurity as a National Priority; 3. Enhancing Zoonotic Disease Prevention through Integrated Surveillance; and 4. Championing the Establishment of the Botswana Public Health Institute (BPHI).

WHO Country Representative Dr Fabian Ndenzako commended Botswana for reaffirming its high-level commitment to the One Health approach and aligning the multi-sectoral efforts to address health threats at the human-animal-environment interface. Moving forward, Dr. Ndenzako advised establishing a coordination mechanism and developing a costed One Health National Strategy.

As One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach aiming to achieve optimal health outcomes by bringing together human health, animal health, and environmental sectors, the high-level political commitment signed today is an expression of strong support for institutionalizing the One Health initiative in Botswana.