28 May 2023

It is evident that Botswana has the potential and capability to serve as a centre of excellence on disease control, Vice President Slumber Tsogwane has revealed.

 He told a kgotla meeting in Mmadikola recently that was the reason government planned to turn Botswana into a centre of excellence for human and animal diseases disease control. 

Outlining the successes, Mr Tsogwane said Botswana had already proven its mantle through the control and prevention of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and lung cancer. 

The country had also earned stripes in the prevention of COVID-19, he said adding that local scientists discovered a COVID-19 variant. 

Stating that Botswana also stood out in the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge, Mr Tsogwane revealed that research conducted  by University of Botswana students proved that a certain blood group was more prone to HIV.

Botswana had also been successful in controlling and managing Tsetsefly transmitted  illnesses as well as Malaria, he said.

Mr Tsogwane said the country needed to ensure that structures were in place for it to be a centre of excellence.

The plan was to cooperate with other countries for adherence to international standards, he said.

Turning to the issue of water scarcity beleaguering the country, the vice president assured his audience that it was being addressed.

Mr Tsogwane said in efforts to ensure sufficient water supply nationwide, Botswana had engaged Namibia and Lesotho on water cooperation.

The vice president stated that the ongoing Boteti southern and Central District villages cluster water project was expected to supply good quality water by December. 

Villages would be connected in stages starting with Mokobaxane, Kedia and Mopipi, he explained.

A resident, Mr Kesenyegile Mashaza said the discovery of FMD medicine  rescued the country’s pastoral farming industry from being wiped out.

Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Keoagile Sebako called for the paving of internal roads as well as  provision of water at Sekgophane mobile clinic.

He complained that Mmadikola Clinic was understaffed and requested at least one nurse.

Mr Sebako also complained about the condition of the village dumping site. Ends