18 Aug 2022

A donation of 90 laptops from UNICEF will assist the Ministry of Health in its efforts to align to the Reset Agenda digitisation priority and improve service delivery.

“UNICEF is helping us align to the President’s Reset Agenda, which will ultimately see us achieving universal access to health for all by the year 2036,” said assistant minister Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe at the handover ceremony in Gaborone yesterday.

He said the laptops would support the ministry in the capturing of COVID-19 data and analysis.

Saying the donation was timely given that the country was emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic which had depleted resources,  Mr Lelatisitswe described UNICEF as a reliable and generous partner particularly in the development of Botswana’s health system.

“Not only has UNICEF been supportive on issues of children’s health, but also in all other aspects of Botswana health system. UNICEF has always been present throughout our journey to bring health services closer to our people,” said the assistant minister.

He noted that the organisation stood shoulder to shoulder with Botswana at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic facilitating timely delivery of vaccines.

“That was not an easy thing given the high demand and the limited supply at the time. But against all odds, they managed to bring the lifesaving vaccines to the people,” said Mr Lelatisitswe.

The ministry, he said, had received numerous assistance from UNICEF over the years including donations of diagnostic test kits for various conditions, food supplements and other medical supplies as well as technical support.

Another speaker at the event, UNICEF’s Dr Joan Matj, said the donation was aimed at supporting the ministry’s efforts to improve health reports.

Dr Matj,  who is the organisation’s country representative, said  the laptops would enable the ministry to capture data with modern technology ‘and do away with paper work’ .

She said specifically the laptops would help with data capturing to support COVID-19 response, track vaccination uptake and document,  in time, important information.

That would  assist the ministry with real time monitoring and therefore responsiveness to emerging issues within the health sector, said Dr Matji.

She pledged UNICEF’s continued assistance to Botswana. Ends