17 Jun 2020

Team Europe, represented by the European Union (EU) Humanitarian Office and International Federation of the Red Cross delegation has received goods worth P1.4 million to be donated to Botswana.

The consignment, which arrived June16, comprises 1 500 gowns, 40 000 surgical masks, 6 250 respiratory N95 masks, 40 000 examination gloves, infrared thermometers, disinfectants and sanitisers.

Briefing the media on behalf of the team, EU ambassador to Botswana, Mr Jan Sadek said the consignment would assist the Ministry of Health and Wellness in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

The donation would go a long way towards assisting medical professionals in dealing with the pandemic, he said.

Mr Sadek noted that COVID-19 was a global pandemic but Europe was determined to assist Botswana in any way possible through both short and long term measures.

“Europe is equally affected, as people are suffering while worst of it others have lost their lives along the way and therefore we are in solidarity with other EU member states towards eliminating COVID-19,” he said.

He said the consignment was part of a long term plan aimed at dealing with the pandemic and its effects on the society, having observed some undesirable events in some households during the lockdown.

Mr Sadek said Europe representatives in Botswana were determined to assist victims of gender based violence which had occurred under lockdown through psychosocial support.

Assistance would also be extended to other vulnerable groups of the society, he said adding that up to P6m would be disbursed towards the course.

“All in all, about P26m will be used to assist Botswana in fighting COVID-19 and its related short and long term challenges,” he said.

Mr Sadek observed that as a result of the negative impacts of COVID-19, the country’s economy was hard hit and therefore would not be smooth sailing for Botswana to dust itself, turn around its fortunes overnight and blossom again.

As such, Mr Sadek said part of the team’s long term strategy was to initiate activities that would not only reviving the economy but go a long way in diversifying and sustaining it as well.

“It is important to come with initiatives and programmes aimed at reviving the economy. In tourism, Botswana has a sector that has the potential of turning her fortunes around that will lead to recovering from the wounds of COVID-19 and therefore there is need to grow eco-tourism,” he said.

Mr Sadek congratulated Botswana for coming up with strategies that were able to manage the pandemic.

“Such strategies are remarkable, as observed by the few cases recorded since the outbreak of COVID-19.  So far we are happy with what the country has achieved and we are hopeful that they will continue with the same spirit and even do better,” he said.

French ambassador to Botswana, Ms Laurence Beau was equally thrilled by the team’s contribution towards the fight against COVID-19 in Botswana.

“France and Germany are delighted to be part of the EU delegation, that has seen it fit to assist Botswana,” said Ms Beau.

She concurred with Mr Sadek that the donation was an act of solidarity with the people of Botswana and was hopeful that more help would follow. ENDS