Africa-Press – Botswana. The Regional Multi-Sectoral Strategy to Promote Health and Well-being in the WHO African Region for the period 2023-2030 will help strengthen the already existing strategies that the Ministry of Health has developed and implemented.
Supporting the strategy on behalf of Botswana at the ongoing 73rd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, Assistant Minister, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said that the country had adopted the multi-sectoral approach as an integral part of its primary health care.
“Such multi-sectoral approach involves an integrated, collaborative process whereby different actors come together to address complex health challenges and inter-related goals such as universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.
Mr Lelatisitswe said that during the HIV and AIDS era in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the country was battling with the scourge, the multi-sectoral approach was adopted and implemented, which yielded positive results for the country.
He further explained that the approach helped in the development of integrated policies and programmes that were inclined to fighting the HIV and AIDS as well as establishing wellness in the workplace to address the affected and inflicted.
Mr Lelatisitswe however said despite the positive results yielded by the multi-sectoral approach, the burden of disease continued to rise.
“The country is experiencing an acute increase in non-communicable diseases, and in an attempt to address the problem, a multi-sectoral strategy for the prevention and control of Non- Communicable Diseases 2013 to 2023 was set up,” he said.
He said with the aim of promoting healthy living and control tobacco use in the country, a multi-sectoral strategy on tobacco control was being developed.
“The strategy will contribute to the broader national multi-sectoral prevention and control of NCDs.
On another note, Botswana has taken it upon herself to tackle sedentary lifestyles, with the Ministry of Health leading annual physical activity campaigns themed: Walk for Life # Beat NCDs,” he said.
In that regard, Mr Lelatisitswe said that Botswana was in full support of the adoption of the proposed strategy, and committed to its operationalisation.
The strategy will also help on strategies that were still being drafted.
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