Africa-Press – Botswana. Government wants the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership (BHP) strengthened in pursuit of its knowledge-based, research-intensive and innovative economy ambitions, says President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.
“We want to invest in capacitating our own people and institutions and provide solutions not just to the country’s solutions but to the region. We are sitting in an ambient environment. We have tranquil, peace and economic stability to afford that,” he told a visiting Harvard University delegation led by Professor Roger Shapiro recently.
To that end government planned to enhance Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects in order to have the necessary base material.
President Masisi called for the refurbishment and expansion of the BHP laboratory.
“Despite its capability which led to the discovery of the Omicron virus, the laboratory is too small and therefore must be expanded to cater for other eventualities in the future,” he said.
President Masisi said when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, Botswana relied on South Africa to carry out tests.
He said the partnership was instrumental in the discovery of the COVID-19 virus variant by a local doctor and in addressing health related challenges.
President Masisi applauded the university for its commitment to assisting Botswana in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
“Botswana owes Harvard University tonnes of gratitude,” said Dr Masisi.
He said the university helped Botswana combat the pandemic through its programmes, funding as well as all other necessary resources during former president Dr Festus Mogae’s tenure.
“Dr Mogae did extremely well in establishing the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership (BHP) leading the fight against the AIDS pandemic. What he did by establishing the special relationship with the university was extremely amazing. He deserves to be honoured,” he said.
For his part, Professor Joseph Makhema said BHP offered capacity programmes in partnership with Harvard University-affiliated hospitals where some professionals would visit Botswana and work with either Scottish Livingstone Memorial Hospital or BHP laboratory.
Prof. Makhema said BHP was also working with the University of Botswana in identifying top achievers to enrol with Harvard University for their doctorate degrees.
“Such students must acquire the top marks that will qualify them for Harvard entry point. Recently the facility received one of the local doctors who was trained at the Harvard institution,” he said.
Prof. Makhema said the university was committed to building capacity in science and research.
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