04 Jul 2023

Botswana will host the 73rd World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa Regional Committee (RC) session from August 28 to September 1 in Gaborone this year. Health minister Dr Edwin Dikoloti said when addressing the media recently that the session would discuss formulation of regional health policies, as well as review WHO Africa activities.

“The conference will also consider, revise, and endorse new health initiatives and adopt new resolutions, including decisions that steer the work of WHO Africa and country offices for the coming years,” he said. 

The conference would also provide a platform for the ministry to share Botswana’s health success stories. “…We are a model of good governance, and health continues to be a priority for the government,” he said. In line with President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s vision to position Botswana as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE), the ministry had found it imperative to host the conference, he said. 

Dr Dikoloti added that the conference would be the third international event the country had hosted in the recent past. 

He said expected attendance at the WHO RC session was 1000 delegates, ranging from investors, financiers, and government representatives. WHO Country Representative, Dr Josephine Namboze said the WHO RC was the continent’s flagship gathering for discussing health challenges and setting a sustainable health agenda and priorities for the region. 

She said the WHO needed to attune its work to Africa’s 1.3 billion people, whose different cultures, languages and health systems were as expansive as the continent itself. 

“Our collective efforts therefore are crucial in addressing the health needs of this diverse population and achieving universal health coverage, as one of the Sustainable Development Goals,” Dr Namboze said. She stated that through strong partnerships, innovative approaches, and evidence-based strategies, many African countries had made significant strides in improving health outcomes. 

“However, we must also acknowledge the existing challenges, such as health inequalities amidst emerging infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and health emergencies,” she said.

Dr Namboze said the conference would provide an opportunity for participants to collectively address the challenges and identify practical solutions that were tailored to the unique needs of the African continent. 

She said delegates would also take some time to celebrate WHO’s 75th anniversary in global health cooperation. 

Dr Namboze said since its inception, WHO together with member states, had tirelessly worked to fulfil its mission, spearheading progress towards health for all, guided by the principles of equity, solidarity, and human rights. And, “the goal to achieve health for all remains as important today as it was 75 years ago,” she said. ENDS