03 Feb 2020

A draft National Poverty Eradication Policy has been developed to provide a coordinated and multidimensional approach towards poverty reduction in the country.

Delivering the 2020/2021 budget proposal yesterday, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr Thapelo Matsheka said government remained committed to addressing all forms of poverty.

“One programme that is an integral part of poverty reduction is Ipelegeng. This is a temporary relief initiative used by government to reach all segments of communities in Botswana,” he said.

He said the programme would be re-oriented to perform productive activities and mobilise communities to enhance their participation in local development.

In an effort to eradicate poverty, Botswana came up with poverty eradication implementation guidelines of packages in 2012.

The objectives of the implementation guidelines were among others, to provide an environment for smooth and transparent implementation and coordination of sustainable poverty eradication projects.

Concerning healthcare reforms, Dr Matsheka said as part of the effort to improve access to healthcare services, guidelines for the standardisation and strengthening of the delivery of minimum healthcare packages were being developed.

He said the guidelines would be delivered through Regional Health Management Teams (RHMTs), established during the 2019/2020 financial year.

When fully operational, the RHMTs are expected to strengthen service delivery to the respective communities.

He said as part of the reforms, the Health Financing Strategy developed during the second quarter of 2019 would, among  others enhance efficiency by involving the private sector in the delivery of health services at full cost recovery rates to ensure financial sustainability.

The strategy, he said, would increase revenue streams and sustain long term expenditures within the health sector.

“The strategy is undergoing the process of approval, which is expected to be completed during the first half of 2020.”

Minister Matsheka said an e-Health Strategy was developed to guide the provision of better healthcare by transforming health system and business practices through the effective use of ICT in order to increase quality, safety, timeliness and efficiency of health services.

He said all public referral, district and primary hospitals had been connected to the network. ENDS