Botswana has declared a national public health emergency following critical shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies, a crisis that has put additional strain on the country’s already fragile health system.
In a televised address, President Duma Boko unveiled an emergency response plan worth 250 million pula (£13.8 million), saying the government would employ military oversight to stabilize supply chains. “The work shall remain nonstop until the entire value chain of procurement has been fixed,” he told the nation.
The shortages come at a time when Botswana’s economy is reeling from a downturn in the global diamond market and cuts in foreign aid. According to officials, these pressures have left many of the country’s 2.5 million citizens struggling with unemployment and deepening poverty.
Health Minister Dr. Stephen Modise detailed the extent of the crisis, citing shortages of life-saving drugs for HIV, tuberculosis, and cancer treatment. He acknowledged that the health ministry is burdened with debts exceeding one billion pula (£55.2 million), much of it due to patients being referred to private hospitals for services unavailable in public facilities.
The government has already suspended referrals for elective surgeries and non-urgent procedures, including organ transplants, until the situation improves. Despite the challenges, Dr. Modise struck a hopeful tone: “I have no doubt that soon, very soon, we will overcome. This is definitely not insurmountable.”
Meanwhile, UNICEF has urged urgent action to protect children in Botswana, warning that malnutrition remains a persistent threat in some areas. In D’Kar town, the agency said, hunger is a daily struggle. “The President’s call underscores what we witness on the ground,” UNICEF stated.
To ensure swift relief, military trucks loaded with medical supplies began departing the capital, Gaborone, on Monday, heading to remote communities where the crisis has hit hardest.