07 Oct 2020

It is of paramount importance that the country continues to strengthen its health systems to enable it to provide access to quality essential health services.

Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Lemogang Kwape, said this when giving a statement during the virtual meeting of the fifth executive board of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday.

Dr Kwape said strengthening health systems was essential particularly for the most vulnerable, who had been disproportionally impacted by COVID-19.

The minister also thanked WHO director general for a comprehensive and informative interim report, on implementation of Resolution WHA73.1 on the COVID-19 response.

Dr Kwape stated that as per the resolution, there was need to ensure equitable access to affordable diagnostics, therapeutics, medicines and the eventual vaccines for the COVID-19.

“We therefore welcome the guidance and support rendered by the WHO for the continuation of essential services in the context of COVID-19, and the WHO’s close monitoring of the impact of the pandemic on delivery of essential health services,” he said.

Dr Kwape also said the important resolution had set the framework through which member states, the WHO and other stakeholders could intensify individual and collective efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moreover, Dr Kwape further said in this respect, the country had used the WHO Strategic Response and Preparedness Plan and its operational guidance, to update its COVID-19 national plan.

He said the decentralisation of laboratory capacity for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, to cover all the high traffic ports of entry to Botswana was another notable milestone.

In addition, the minister said government had intensified the national severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance, as well as integrated the epidemiological surveillance of influenza with laboratory surveillance into one system, through the National Health Data Collaboration initiative.

Dr Kwape further appreciated WHO’s ongoing work and was confident that the organisation would continue to work closely with member states with respect to all the ongoing processes.

He also expressed the government’s commitment and readiness to continue its collaboration with WHO, other member states and global health partners in the quest to find a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHO Director-General, following consultation with the board chair, had called for an Executive Board special session on COVID-19 response to follow up on the WHA73.1 resolution approved by member states earlier in May 2020.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss with WHO member states and seek their guidance on developments around the efforts to implement the strategic preparedness and response plan, as well as the actions taken to initiate the review by an independent panel. ENDS