22 May 2022

 Botswana's response to COVID-19 has been exemplary since the outbreak of the pandemic, says WHO director general, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus.
Speaking in an interview after a meeting with President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi in Geneva, Switzerland on Saturday, Dr Ghebreyesus said he used the occasion to congratulate government for  Botswana's overall response to COVID-19.

"We congratulate Botswana; it has been a wonderful job the President and his government did in response to COVID-19, for the commitment not only to the good vaccine rollout rate but also for the comprehensive approach you have followed," Dr Ghebreyesus said.Another positive area he mentioned was Botswana’s contribution to the global battle against the pandemic with the discovery of the Omicron variant.

"In detecting Omicron, you paid for it but Botswana did the right thing, showing the world transparency and the use of science.
I think the rest of the world learned lessons later on although the initial reaction was wrong especially to Botswana and South Africa. So, not only did Botswana do well with its domestic response but also contributed to the rest of the world with surveillance of the virus," said Dr Ghebreyesus.

In addition, the WHO head said Botswana's approach to primary health care was laudable and exemplary as was its ambition to move towards health research and vaccine development.
"We have discussed the focus on primary health care, which is important, what Botswana is doing and what we have been encouraging countries across the world to do," Dr Ghebreyesus revealed.
He further said President Masisi's visit would further strengthen the working relations between Botswana and WHO.

The President gifted WHO’s Geneva headquarters with a traditional Setswana basket describing it as ‘a gift of solidarity and a repository of our values and commitment to the WHO’.
It was also in recognition of Dr Ghebreyesus’ second term, he said.ENDS