10 Apr 2022

The DDT College of Medicine has been commended for responding to the country’s dire shortage of health care professionals.

Speaking during the college’s graduation ceremony in Gaborone on Thursday, Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology,

Dr Douglas Letsholathebe said the response was in line with the country’s needs as espoused in National Development Plans and Vision 2036.

Dr Letsholathebe said government would continue to support the college in accordance with the recently approved private entities support policy, so that they could grow and enhance the quality of education offered to locals.

He said that would also assist the country towards attaining its aim of becoming a knowledge-driven economy.

Dr Letsholathebe stated that in 2008, government resolved to train young Batswana in local institutions due to the high cost of education that was incurred abroad, which led to many young Batswana accessing tertiary education.

“The graduation ceremony today is ushering you into a new professional life that has its own challenges, … and you must be prepared to face them with your heads held high,” he said.

The minister also urged the graduates to be resilient, innovative and to persevere to succeed.Meanwhile, DDT College of Medicine Vice

Chancellor, Dr Tumelo Tlhoiwe said the graduation of the 120 health professionals was an achievement that answered to the healthcare professionals’ skills gaps depicted in the country’s NDP 11 and Vision 2036.

Dr Tlhoiwe said the college was borne out of the need to address the dire shortage and scarcity of health professionals that the country was and is experiencing.

She said the need for health professionals was even more pronounced particularly, today, when the world is grappling with the impact of the

COVID-19 pandemic and other disease burdens.She applauded the graduating class of 2021 on their achievements and wished them well in their future endeavours.

Reflecting on his educational journey, graduate and overall ‘best performing student’, Mr Pelotshweu Nyambe expressed gratitude to both the government and DDT academic staff.

“Studying to become a health professional was not easy, but the support and guidance that I received during my educational journey made it all worthwhile to become a fourth industrial revolution pharmacist,” he said. ENDS