The Pan Afrikanist Watchman

Botswana: April 17, 2023

Botswana has been nominated to host the 73^rd Session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa meeting (WHO RC73) in August 2023.

This was revealed by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshediso Moeti when paying a courtesy call on the President His Excellency Dr Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi this week.

Dr Moeti, a Motswana who has worked with WHO for more than 20 years, is the first woman to be elected the WHO Africa Regional Director and is now in her second term.

WHO Africa Region is a governing body for the Health sector in Africa and the RC73 meeting is an annual meeting of Health Ministers of the WHO Africa Region.

The purpose of the gathering is for the Health sector to come together and engage on the health problems in Africa and come up with ways of improving the health of Africans.

The Regional Director and her delegation is in Botswana to meet the local organizing committee to receive updates on preparations of the WHO RC73 meeting, which will be held in Gaborone from 28 August to 1 September 2023.

While in the country, the delegation is also expected to meet with the Ministry of Health and other Government senior officers with a view of exploring future collaborations.

When receiving the delegation, President Masisi pledged Botswana’s full support in ensuring the success of the conference. The President assured the Regional Director that Botswana will make available all resources possible towards the success of the event.

Dr. Moeti and President Masisi flanked by their respective delegations (Pic) courtesy BWGovernment

Dr. Masisi also praised the wonderful and fruitful relations that Botswana has enjoyed with WHO. On the other hand, Dr. Moeti applauded the Government of Botswana for its commitment and investment towards the provision of healthcare to Batswana.

She also lauded the country for its commitment towards the fight against pandemics such as HIV/AIDS and Covid 19. Actually, Dr Moeti was herself in the forefront of the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the early ‘90’s when the deadly disease threatened to decimate Batswana.

She headed the AIDS/STD Unit at the Ministry of Health, which would later assume the acronym, NACA – National Aids Coordinating Agency, and was then elevated to the Office of the Presidency during Dr Festuis Mogae’s tenure as President.

With her colleagues in the health sector, Dr Moeti is credited with overseeing Botswana through a turbulent health crisis and convincing the President to procure the life-saving Anti-Retroviral Drugs and distributing them free of charge to Batswana that tested positive for HIV – a ground-breaking and unheard of development in Africa at the time!

Meantime, credible sources have told The Pan Afrikanist that Dr Moeti’s contract as WHO Africa Regional Director is coming to an end, and as a way of honouring her, President Masisi lobbied for the Regional Committee for Africa meeting (WHO RC73) to be held in her homeland.

© BWGovernment with additional reporting by TPA