22 May 2022

  Botswana will work with WHO in pursuance of its ambition of becoming a global health research and innovation centre as well as to strengthen the country's domestic health care system, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said.

In an interview after a closed-door discussion with WHO director-general Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus in Geneva, Switzerland Saturday, President Masisi said the organisation’s expertise was vital to the development of Botswana's health system.

"We discussed the possibility and desire to bring synergy to our expertise and knowledge in the area of animal health, especially through the Botswana Vaccine Institute with the work that we now want to do with the Botswana Public Health Institute. The technical competence we have been assured of from the WHO will be of the highest order," said Dr Masisi.

He revealed that WHO was keen to provide resources towards  making Botswana's dream of  becoming a global health centre for research and innovation a reality.As the country also sought to be the centre for traditional medicine and practice, WHO had shown commitment to assist by linking Botswana with India which had experience in the area, the President said.
Dr Masisi further said with Botswana in the process of migrating from a resource-based to knowledge-based economy, the health system needed interventions to cater for its predominantly youthful population.

The interventions included sharpened focus on wellbeing, access and equity for all drug and health therapies, particularly for unknown variants and pandemics, he said.
The President said the Reset Agenda priorities were focused on protecting all, both citizens and non-citizens, from the effects of COVID-19 and providing therapeutics for ailments that might arise.Also, Dr Masisi said, as a Generation Unlimited champion, he spoke to WHO about availing job and internship opportunities for the youth.

For his part, Dr Ghebreyesus confirmed that the global health organisation was prepared to render support to Botswana's vision. The focus was now on enhancing Botswana to be a centre for Africa, he said.

"We have agreed to work on strengthening Botswana's health system, making it more resilient. We also discussed the need for research and surveillance since Botswana already has good capacity. We are looking forward to working closely with the President, Minister of Health and their team for that," revealed Dr Ghebreyesus. ENDS