23 Apr 2024

Boitekanelo College has been accredited for a Bachelor of Science Occupational Therapy programme by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT).

The achievement is validation of the college’s dedication to excellence and testament to unwavering commitment in seeking to advance the field of occupational therapy globally.  

Speaking during the celebration of the accreditation in Gaborone Monday, Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said achieving accreditation from the WFOT was a significant accomplishment that demonstrated Boitekanelo College’s commitment to meeting global standards of excellence in Occupational Therapy education

He said the accreditation bestowed upon the college was recognition of the Boitekanelo College’s adherence to the highest standards of education, research and practice in the field of occupational therapy.  

“It signifies that the college’s School of Rehabilitation’s curriculum is comprehensive, their Occupational Therapy department is competent and well-resourced and their programmes are aligned to the advancement of the profession,” he said.

He further said the accreditation provided assurance to students, employers and the public that graduates of the OT programme would be industry-ready to meet the demands of the profession and make meaningful contributions to the health and well being of patients, not only in Botswana but internationally as well.

He said as Botswana was also in the trajectory to export skilled manpower, the international accreditation opened doors to collaborations and partnership opportunities with other accredited institutions, both nationally and internationally. “It facilitates the exchange of knowledge, best practices and resources, ultimately enriching tertiary institutions to be centers of excellence,” he noted.

For his part, Botswana Association of Occupational Therapists president, Mr Misani Monthe said occupational therapy was a critical component of allied healthcare, focusing on enabling the general population to participate in meaningful activities and occupations that were essential to their general health and well being. 

Mr Monthe said it encompassed a wide range of interventions aimed at promoting independence, improving the quality of life and facilitating participation in everyday activities.

He highlighted that currently in Botswana there were only 39 occupational therapists in practice, both in public and private hospitals.

“Only a few of these are clinicians in NGOs and medical insurance,” he said.

He added that as more qualified healthcare professionals become available locally, there would be an increase in the patients’ access to a larger pool of specialists to meet their rehabilitation needs, potentially reducing waiting times for appointments, ‘as is currently the case where patients wait for months to be seen by a rehabilitation specialist’.  

Boitekanelo College president and founder, Dr Tiro Mampane said Boitekanelo College aims at producing world-class professionals who meet the highest standards of excellence.

Dr Mampane reiterated that it was important to acknowledge the significance of accreditation in ensuring the quality and integrity of tertiary education and improving service delivery by the Ministry of Health to Batswana.

He said the training of highly skilled workforce would significantly improve service delivery in health institutions for patients needing rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, he said Boitekanelo College would offer full scholarship to two association members willing to further their studies to a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy.  

He said the college was the first tertiary institution in Botswana to train Occupational Therapists, at a degree level saying that would advance occupational therapy practice and research.

He thanked stakeholders especially the University of Cape Town for their collaboration and partnership in developing the programme to tailor make for Batswana. ENDS