Africa-Press – Botswana. The acting Minister of Health, Mr Lawrence Ookeditse has emphasised the crucial role of parliamentarians in transforming the national response to tuberculosis (TB), describing them as the wheel change in shaping health policy and ensuring political commitment toward ending the disease.
Speaking during the launch of the Botswana TB Caucus in Gaborone on April 10, Mr Ookeditse said MPs were uniquely positioned to drive the TB agenda forward.
“By leveraging on our positions, we can push for motions based on robust evidence, advocate for budget tracking, and ensure that health funding reaches the intended ministries,” he said.
Mr Ookeditse underscored the unique role of MPs as advocates for their communities, highlighting their capacity to influence policy and amplify the voices of those most affected by TB.
“As MPs, we are the voices of our communities, the representatives of those affected by TB and the champions of public health,” he said.
He pointed out that parliamentarians also played a critical role in promoting social protection and labour policies that supported individuals diagnosed with TB.
“It is our duty to ensure that the needs of our constituents are heard, not only at the national level, but also at regional and global fora,” he added.
Outlining the goals of the Botswana TB Caucus, Mr Ookeditse said it included enhancing political commitment by keeping TB high on the national health agenda in line with the UN High-Level Meeting (HLM) declarations.
He also called on parliamentarians to mobilise resources by advocating for increased domestic funding and exploring innovative financing mechanisms to meet the financial targets set in the 2023 declaration.
Mr Ookeditse further urged lawmakers to strengthen programmatic structures by supporting the implementation of comprehensive TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment programmes and to facilitate multi-sectoral collaboration by engaging civil society, the private sector as well as other stakeholders in a unified national TB response.
He warned that Botswana’s progress against TB was under threat from broader health challenges, particularly the HIV epidemic and therefore stressed the urgent need for investments and coordinated strategies to end TB by 2030.
“TB continues to pose a significant health challenge. In 2023 alone, Botswana recorded 3 251 TB cases, yet WHO estimates show that Botswana is still missing half of its cases due to programmatic and operational gaps in case finding, diagnostics, and supply chain management,” he revealed.
Citing recent reviews by WHO and UNAIDS, which revealed declining political commitment and resource allocation towards TB in many countries, Mr Ookeditse said the formation of the Botswana TB Caucus was timely and essential.
“This launch rekindles political will and unites all stakeholders dedicated to ending TB,” he stated.
Mr Ookeditse acknowledged the Global TB Caucus, which, through its Anglophone regional manager, had pledged support for Botswana’s national TB Caucus.
“We are truly grateful, as the caucus will provide a non-partisan and inclusive platform for MPs and policymakers to collaboratively tackle the TB epidemic,” said Mr Ookeditse.
He added that engaging civil society and addressing stigma would significantly strengthen both national and regional TB responses.
Mr Ookeditse further called for the establishment of regional accountability mechanisms to support the implementation of TB commitments.
“Tuberculosis is an airborne disease that transcends borders, we must create regional platforms for heads of state to collaborate, share best practices, mobilise resources, and confront this epidemic collectively,” he said.
He urged Botswana TB Caucus to align its work with international commitments, including those made at the Barcelona TB Summit and reaffirmed in 2023, in order to help build a future where TB was no longer a public health threat in Botswana or anywhere else in the world.
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