22 Jun 2023

Part of the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) approach to some of the critical issues and megatrends affecting global health and health in Botswana, is the launch of panel discussions on health issues.

Speaking during a launch to open up discussions and conversations on delivery of health services, in Gaborone on Wednesday, the Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said the idea to start discussions and conversations was to create an environment and platform where the public and all multiple stakeholders could interact in a relaxed and open atmosphere, for life changing dialogues on health issues.

“We believe that these discussions will allow us to get direct feedback from the public and other critical players in the health space on how we deliver health services,” he said.

Dr Dikoloti added that through the discussions, communities would be listened to with the aim to understand their challenges, priorities, suggestions and ideas on how the country could achieve the universal health coverage in line with the Reset Agenda and Vision 2036.

Dr Dikoloti said the initiative would be made up of panel discussions, public lectures and many other channels of communication aimed at increasing dialogue between the ministry, private sector, community, civil society and other key stakeholders in the health sector.

“As a ministry, we are alive and aware of the fact that the highest learning opportunities lie in listening to each and every player sharing their rich views and varied experiences,” he said

Dr Dikoloti said the ministry adopted the Setswana approach to dialogue known as “mafoko a kgotla a mantle otlhe,” meaning that they were willing to take on board all views that could help provide health services better and achieve Universal Health Coverage.

He also said the ministry was aware that issues from different sectors also affected the health and wellbeing of the people and that health also affected all sectors of the economy.

“We can’t wait to hear the fresh ideas and suggestions that our stakeholders have, which we have no doubt, that they will help us modernise and freshen up our health system,” he said.

He said the ministry would take seriously the views and experiences that people would share, to make the ministry become the health service provider of choice though not forgetting that Botswana being a developing country, still faced some developmental challenges that affected health service delivery.

Dr Dikoloti said there were areas where challenges of roads infrastructure, building infrastructure and people’s socio economic status affected access to healthcare services.

The first session of the panel discussions focused on ‘One Government Approach to Universal Health Coverage’ and Dr Dikoloti said it was more relevant and appropriate, given the afternath of COVID-19.

He said the focus on One Government Approach to Universal Health Coverage aimed to highlight the intersection of sectors in accessing quality health care to all Batswana without any financial or related hardships.

Dr Dikoloti said the different discussions would cover the whole continuum of essential health services, including health promotion, health prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care.

The Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Anna Mokgethi, hailed for getting the whole nation involved in health conversations.

Ms Mokgethi said health affected every sector in life hence it was important that it be addressed by all so as to have a productive nation. Ends