22 Mar 2021

The Armready For Lemao COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Campaign will not cost anywhere close to the P30 million as cited by the Patriot on Sunday newspaper on its edition dated 21 March 2021.

A press release from the Ministry of Health and Wellness says the campaign is expected to cost less than 10 per cent of the P30 million cited in the newspaper.

“Further that just over P1 100 050 of the total expenditure of P2 979 954.50 will be paid from the ministry’s budget as duly authorised.

The rest of the funding which amounts to just under P1.9m has been obtained from, and will be funded by a development partner who has a formal relationship with the Botswana government in respect of health care and other developmental issues,” reads the statement.

The statement notes that the associated public expenditure, which had been authorised and would be incurred towards the event, was just over P1.1m.

It says the theme and the items intended to be covered by the campaign as well as the rationale for including each element of expenditure was appropriate. It says the ministry was confident that the P1.1m was money well spent.

“The bulk of the money covers materials which have been used and some that will continue to be used as we market and promote the campaign.

The underlying campaign is in line with the integrated community health strategy that the ministry has been promoting since November 2020, not only to deal with COVID-19 challenges but other widespread health management responsibilities that are the responsibility of government and communities,” reads the statement. ENDS