19 May 2026

Nurses from across the country converged in Shakawe on May 13 to commemorate International Nurses Day in an event that highlighted the significant role of nurses in the country’s healthcare system.

Speaking at the event, the Assistant Minister of Health Mr Lawrence Ookeditse acknowledged the challenges faced by healthcare workers including shortage of resources, demanding workloads and peculiar healthcare needs across the country.

He, however, praised nurses for their commitment to service delivery despite unfavourable working conditions.

The Assistant Minister further emphasised the need for recognition of nurses as a special cadre with unique regulations from other professions, outside Public Service Act regulations.

He said government was making strides in engagement with the Directorate on Public Service Management (DPSM) to address issues of nurses’ conditions of service.

Mr Ookeditse also said the plan was underway to review the Nursing and Midwifery Act which would help to address some pertinent issues affecting nurses.

Director of Nursing and Midwifery Mr Rejoice Sankoloba said 3 655 nurses relocated from Ministry of Health to Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, a move he said had strengthened community based Nursing and Midwifery services by bringing healthcare services closer to the people.

Mr Sankoloba said the establishment of the Nursing and Midwifery unit at the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs headquarters was a welcome development which enhanced coordination and decision-making.

The Nursing and Midwifery director urged nurses to explore private practice, career advancement and to climb the ladder in government senior positions.

Mr Sankoloba further said nurses still faced challenges of delayed transfers, delayed progression and slow absorption of graduates which negatively affected service delivery.

He also raised a concern about safety of nurses while on duty since some are physically or verbally attacked saying nurses deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.

For his part Botswana Nurses Union (BONU) president Mr Oreeditse Kelebakgosi said the growing healthcare demands challenged government to upgrade primary hospital status to district hospitals.

He said this included deploying specialised personnel to ensure provision of quality healthcare services.

 Mr Kelebakgosi also appealed to government to absorb unemployed nurses and midwives, noting that 797 qualified nurses and midwives were currently unemployed.

He said Okavango District was among the hardest-hit areas with staffing challenges, noting that at J.P. Kavindama Primary Hospital in Shakawe only two out of eight midwives were permanently employed while six remained on temporary contracts.

Mr Kelebakgosi also stressed the need for adequate resources and improved conditions of service to enable nurses to perform effectively.He expressed concern that Botswana had not yet ratified the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Nursing Personnel Convention of 1977, which seeks to improve nurses’ working conditions, education and professional status in order to ensure quality healthcare services.

He said this year’s International Nurses Day theme: Our Nurses, Our Future: Empowered Nurses Save Lives, highlighted the importance of empowering nurses to strengthen healthcare delivery and build a stronger nation.

Earlier on,  Kgosi Mutemo Mbambo of Shakawe said introducing incentives could go a long way in retaining nurses in Botswana in the wake of mass exodus of professionals who were migrating abroad for opportunities.

He said it was unfortunate that the country was losing dedicated professionals despite government’s investment in their training.

For his part, Okavango West Member of Parliament Kenny Kapinga thanked nurses for their dedication and encouraged them to remain committed to their profession. ENDS