11 Nov 2026

Botswana is aiming for a 95 per cent measles-rubella vaccination coverage target through a nationwide integrated immunisation campaign running from November 16-20.
Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, announced the drive at the official launch of the Integrated Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign in Gaborone on November 10.

Minister Motshegwa said the five-day campaign would run simultaneously across all 31 districts, targeting children aged six to 59 months.
Under the theme: Sireletsang Bana (Protect children, protect our future), the initiative aims to close community immunisation gaps by reaching children who missed routine doses.

He said health was both a developmental and human rights priority while child health was a shared responsibility among government, families, communities and development partners. Quoting former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, he reminded attendees that there was “no trust more sacred than the world’s responsibility towards children.”

He also referenced author Neil Postman, describing children as “living messages we send to a time we will not see.”

The minister noted that the campaign aligned with government’s commitment to universal health coverage, particularly following the transfer of primary healthcare services to the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs and local authorities. Decentralisation, he explained, allowed local leadership to better identify and respond to community needs.

He added that Botswana remained committed to Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aimed to reduce under-five mortality.
Despite COVID-19 movement restrictions and operational hurdles, Botswana’s previous integrated campaign in 2021 achieved 91 per cent coverage.

“We are now working towards the 95 per cent target through stronger partnerships, improved routine immunisation and supplementary vaccination activities,” Mr Motshegwa said.

He also noted that the country was pursuing certified measles elimination status by raising coverage for both the first (MR1) and second (MR2) doses of the measles-rubella vaccine.

The campaign delivers three integrated health interventions across target age groups. Qualified healthcare professionals would administer the measles-rubella vaccine to children aged nine to 59 months, targeting 95 per cent coverage.

Additionally, oral Vitamin A supplementation would be given to children aged six to 59 months, while oral albendazole suspension would be administered to children aged 12 to 59 months, with both supplementary interventions aiming for 90 per cent coverage.

Services would be accessible at local clinics, health posts and designated community sites across all districts.

Minister Motshegwa confirmed that district health teams had completed training and were fully prepared. Addressing resource limitations, the minister urged high operational efficiency, coordinated delivery, robust disease surveillance, early diagnosis and prompt clinical treatment.

He commended healthcare workers, the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, traditional leaders and religious and community stakeholders for their support.

He appealed to parents, guardians and caregivers to take children and their welfare cards to the nearest facility, emphasising that the service was free and open to all children in Botswana regardless of nationality, race or economic status.

“By vaccinating our children, we are not just protecting their immediate health, we are protecting our collective future,” he said, urging all stakeholders to focus on implementation, monitoring and measurable results so that no child was left behind. ENDS