05 Oct 2022

As one of the first five African countries to embrace the Strengthening and Utilising Response Group for Emergencies (SURGE) initiative, Botswana  has gone a step further by ensuring training of personnel.

In line with the initiative’s key strategic deliverable of  ensuring availability of dedicated trained and ready for deployment multi-disciplinary health workforce, personnel from different sectors recently underwent SURGE training.

Trainees were drawn from among others health, agriculture, local government, Botswana Defence Force, disaster management, Water Utilities Corporation and fire department.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 18-day programme in Palapye recently, Assistant Minister of Health Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe explained that SURGE was an emergency preparedness and  response initiative whose objective was to ensure Botswana was better equipped to mobilise and respond within the first 24hrs of a public health emergency.

He said the training was meant to capacitate the health system to respond better to future public health emergencies.

It would improve the country’s capacity to respond to emergencies and reduce risks, death and suffering, said the assistant minister.

Mr Lelatisitswe expressed the ministry’s gratitude to WHO for funding the programme and facilitating training.

He congratulated participants for a successful and mutually beneficial training.

WHO representative, Dr Juliet Bataringaya said the training equipped participants with a useful platform to exchange information, ideas and experiences as well as different perspectives.

She said the team also reflected on enhancing the country’s system for emergency preparedness and response.

Dr Bataringaya said WHO continued to work with state parties, Africa Centre for Disease Control and other partners to build Africa’s capacity to reinforce competencies to prevent, prepare for, detect and rapidly respond to health emergencies.

She pledged WHO’s  continued support to Botswana in its efforts to heighten national health security. Ends