06 Jul 2026

The Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Tshepo Machacha, has expressed gratitude for the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by successive Chinese Medical Teams. 

He stated that their work has improved access to specialised healthcare, strengthened Botswana’s health workforce and contributed to better health outcomes.

Speaking during the farewell ceremony for the 17^th China medical team and the official welcome of the 18^th China medical team in Gaborone on Thursday, Dr Machacha said the deployment of Chinese medical professionals every two years remained one of the most significant achievements of the longstanding health partnership between Botswana and China.

He noted that the Chinese medical teams had become an integral part of Botswana’s healthcare system by providing specialist services at the country’s two national referral hospitals namely; Princess Marina and Nyangabgwe referral hospitals while supporting skills transfer and capacity building among local healthcare professionals.

“The outgoing 17^th China medical team, comprising 28 medical specialists and 11 nurses, offered specialized services in anesthesia, surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, acupuncture, pediatrics, internal medicine, and nursing care, among other clinical disciplines,” he said.

Dr Machacha described the team’s achievements during its assignment as remarkable, having provided more than 300 000 medical consultations and treatments, participated in over 8 100 surgical procedures, managed more than 5 000 critically ill and emergency cases, conducted seven free medical outreach programmes and trained more than 1 400 local healthcare professionals.

He said the accomplishments reflected the team’s commitment, professionalism and unwavering dedication to serving Batswana.

Beyond delivering specialist medical care, Dr Machacha said the team embraced Botswana as its second home, integrating into local healthcare institutions despite differences in language and culture. 

He noted that members built strong professional relationships with local healthcare workers through shared learning, professional exchanges and teamwork.

He also praised the team’s introduction and promotion of acupuncture services, stating that the initiative had expanded treatment options for patients while exposing local healthcare professionals to traditional Chinese medicine. 

“Hundreds of patients have already benefited from the service,” he said.

According to Dr Machacha, the team’s contributions resulted in an increase in specialised procedures being performed at referral hospitals, enabling patients to receive timely treatment and improving the quality of specialist healthcare services.

He further highlighted the team’s commitment to sustainable healthcare through knowledge and technology transfer, academic collaboration, medical equipment donations and community engagement, initiatives that have strengthened Botswana’s healthcare system beyond direct patient care.

In he same vein, Dr Machacha welcomed the 18th China medical team, expressing confidence that it  would continue delivering quality specialist healthcare services while sharing knowledge and expertise with Botswana’s healthcare professionals over the next two years.

He added that Botswana looks forward to expanding cooperation with China through initiatives aimed at reducing the cataract surgery backlog, establishing a paired hospital mechanism in urology, and creating structured exchange programs that will provide Botswana’s healthcare professionals with advanced training and exposure in Chinese hospitals. ENDS