Africa-Press – Botswana. Government remains resolute in its pursuit of a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s health sector, said President Advocate Duma Boko during a courtesy meeting with outgoing World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshediso Moeti at the Office of the President on May 30.
President Boko expressed the government’s commitment to developing a robust national health policy aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This initiative, he said sought to ensure that all citizens could access the health services they needed, without compromising on quality.
“Access to healthcare must mean access to quality healthcare. We must not pride ourselves in universal access to low-quality services,” President Boko said.
He talked about shortcomings of the current health system, which he said had failed many ordinary citizens due to inefficiencies, wastage, and poor coordination of resources, resulting in many being left without adequate care. Admitting the country faced serious health challenges, the President specifically cited issues such as limited access to essential and chronic medications, and growing public frustration.
“We cannot continue to theorise while lives are lost. It is disheartening that people are dying as services are not reaching them,” he said
Furthermore, he said that cervical cancer, was among most health threats.
“Young women are dying. Our resources are limited, but even when support exists, we often fail to act quickly or at all. Something is not connecting and that disconnect lies within government,” he said.
The President also pointed to systemic inefficiencies within the government itself, noting that entrenched procedures, wastage, and sluggish processes hindered swift responses and accountability, particularly in the health sector.
“Such dysfunction often translates into loss of human life,” said.
Procurement procedures emerged as another concern.
“Drawing from personal experience, I have seen how tenders are manipulated and delays caused by litigation, leaving our nation unserved,” President Boko stated.
Further, he called for better data collection and management admitting that decision-making without accurate data was unproductive. He thus remained optimistic for WHO to assist Botswana with technical expertise in building stronger health information systems and acknowledged Dr Moeti’s contribution in the improvement of the health sector both locally and across the world.
Similarly, Dr Moeti also highlighted the need to invest in the data systems to enable them to function effectively for the betterment of the health sector. She further commended government for decentralising primary healthcare and vesting its management and oversight on local authorities.
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