03 Dec 2018

 As part of its commitment to achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), government has pledged to mobilise resources to combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Acting President  Mr Slumber Tsogwane has said.

Speaking at a high level reception hosted by SDG advocates in Johannesburg, South Africa on Sunday, Mr Tsogwane said Botswana was committed to achieving the third SDG calling for the promotion of people’s well-being and ending endemic diseases.

“I pledge on behalf of the government of Botswana to prioritise the treatment of NTDs and to provide the domestic resources required for this treatment. 

In line with this commitment, Botswana has begun providing treatment to the 230 000 children in need of treatment for soil transmitted helminthiasis (‘dibokwana’). In addition, Botswana will conduct a survey to accurately map the distribution and prevalence of schistosomiasis (bilharzia) in 2019 with a view of treating those in need,” he said.

Government, the acting president said, would establish and fully fund an NTDs programme, which would enable the state to work on ambitious targets of eliminating soil transmitted helminthiasis and bilharzia by 2023.

With SDG3 champions, Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo in the audience as part of the Global Citizen Festival held in memory of late South African leader Nelson Mandela, he said Botswana would be spurred into action on the SDGs in part to honour the legacy of the iconic international statesman.

“We are humbled to join you in honouring a man who enriched our history and shaped our common destiny, through his unwavering commitment to the pursuit of peace, freedom, equality, justice and good governance.  In honour of this great man, I am happy to reaffirm Botswana’s commitment to the implementation of the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” Mr Tsogwane said.

Meanwhile, in an interview after arriving from Johannesburg National Aids Coordinating Agency (NACA) coordinator  Mr Richard Matlhare, who  was part of the acting president’s delegation, said the trip was beneficial to the country. 

He said interacting with international leaders and stakeholders afforded the country the opportunity to share ideas on working towards eliminating some of the challenges faced.  

“Secondly, we will now be able to put more effort into dealing with NTDs, which have not been given as much priority as, say, Malaria, Tuberculosis, non-communicable diseases or HIV/AIDS, because they were not considered to be as widespread,” Mr Matlhare said.

He said the health sector would look at identifying the exact prevalence rate of NTDs in Botswana, as well as resourcing efforts to combat them, which would assist the country to meet its goal of eliminating them. ENDS