In a public notice this morning, the Ministry of Health said the precautionary move is intended to protect the health and safety of all citizens and residents of Botswana, as well as to prevent the spreading of the virus.The Ministry stated that the intervention will also help en …
Botswana is facing Ebola importation through its busy regional transport and travel routes, with government warning of risks SESUPO RANTSIMAKO The Ministry of Health has issued the warning of Ebola importation risks following fresh outbreaks of Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD), com …
Health authorities say misinformation threatens Botswana’s fight against polio as officials defend emergency oral vaccination measures targeting young children BONGANI MALUNGA The Ministry of Health has moved to calm growing public concern and misinformation surrounding Botswana’ …
The Ministry of Health has finally submitted its response to the Ombudsman’s damning report on Botswana’s failing public health sector, outlining proposed measures to address the entrenched service delivery failures it laid bare GAZETTE REPORTER The Ministry of Health has moved t …
… In May of last year, Professor Oatlhokwa Nkomazana, the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, told the Public Accounts Committee she could not understand the rationale behind building the Edison Setlhomo Memorial Hospital, given that residents of Moshupa had bette …
A parliamentary hearing saw Lobatse MP Kamal Jacobs demand accountability from health officials over persistent medicine stock-outs in public facilities, blaming administrative failures at the Central Medical Stores and questioning whether its acting director has the capacity to resolve procurement and distribution challenges. The Ministry of Health defended the appointment and stated efforts are underway to stabilize medicine supply chains, as the country's public healthcare system faces renewed scrutiny over shortages affecting patients with chronic illnesses and emergency care needs.
A parliamentary hearing saw Lobatse MP Kamal Jacobs demand accountability from health officials over persistent medicine stock-outs in public facilities, blaming administrative failures at the Central Medical Stores and questioning whether its acting director has the capacity to resolve procurement and distribution challenges. The Ministry of Health defended the appointment and stated efforts are underway to stabilize medicine supply chains, as the country's public healthcare system faces renewed scrutiny over shortages affecting patients with chronic illnesses and emergency care needs.
The Chinese Embassy donated medical equipment worth P180,000 to Botswana's Ministry of Health to strengthen healthcare capacity, including monitors, defibrillators, and syringe pumps. The donation was announced during ceremonies for the 17th and 18th China Medical Teams, alongside new health cooperation initiatives including a hospital partnership and cataract surgery project.
The Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health commended the 17th Chinese Medical Team for improving access to specialised healthcare and strengthening Botswana's health workforce. The team, comprising 28 medical specialists and 11 nurses, provided over 300,000 medical consultations and treatments during its assignment, and was officially replaced by the 18th China medical team.
St. George's University will host a ceremony in Gaborone as part of its 50th-anniversary celebrations to recognise over 130 Botswana physicians trained at the institution, many of whom work in the Ministry of Health and private clinical practice.
Dikeletso Nkgaswa, known as Motitinti, is a spoken-word poet whose Setswana performances use vivid imagery and rhythmic language to engage audiences and preserve oral traditions. His poetry journey began in Standard Three at Tshekedi Primary School in 1994, when a schoolteacher encouraged him to perform a Setswana recitation.
The Sunday Standard editorial criticizes the Ministry of Health's pattern of blaming others for medication shortages, citing prior accusations against the Central Medical Stores and manufacturers without addressing systemic issues.
The Ministry of Health has encountered instances of travellers refusing Ebola screening at Tlokweng Border Post, but says the cases remain isolated and the situation is under control with awareness efforts ongoing.
Botswana's new Employment and Labour Relations Act of 2025 will come into force on July 1, 2026, consolidating previously fragmented labour laws into a single framework. The legislation modernizes worker rights, aligns with international standards, limits fixed-term contracts to 12 months unless objectively justified, and requires employers to sign contracts with all employees including domestic and farm workers.
Ombudsman Stephen Tiroyakgosi says he will soon brief the nation on the government's response to the health crisis once commitments from the Ministry of Health have been consolidated.
Dr Christopher Nyanga, Chief public relations officer in the Ministry of Health, attributed increasing diagnoses of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular complications and cancers in children to unhealthy diets, obesity and sedentary lifestyles shaped by technology use.
Botswana's Ministry of Health has introduced new screening measures for all incoming travellers, including temperature checks and screening for Ebola symptoms, with particular focus on those who have visited the DRC, Uganda, or other Ebola-affected areas within the past 21 days. Symptomatic travellers will be isolated and transported to designated health facilities, and the public has been advised to avoid non-essential travel to affected regions and practise strict hygiene measures.
The Ministry of Health has warned of risks of Ebola importation following fresh outbreaks of Bundibugyo Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The Ministry of Health has addressed public concern and misinformation about Botswana's nationwide oral polio vaccination campaign, asserting that the exercise is safe and necessary to strengthen protection against polio.
The Ministry of Health has submitted a response to the Ombudsman's report on failures in Botswana's public health sector, proposing measures to address the service delivery gaps identified in the report.
The P457 million, 70-bed Edison Setlhomo Masizi Memorial Hospital is approaching completion after four years of delay beyond its original May 2022 handover date, with construction now reported at 99 percent and equipment arriving, though the project has been marked by poor workmanship including structural defects.