The Outgoing Representative of World Health Organisation (WHO) to Botswana, Dr. Josephine Namboze, met His Excellency Mr. Elias M. Magosi, the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on 31st January 2024 in Gaborone, Botswana to bid him farewell at the end of her mission.
Dr. Namboze expressed her gratitude to the Executive Secretary for the diplomatic cooperation and the strong ties she has formed during her collaborative engagements and partnership with the SADC region.
She also appreciated the warm and cordial relationship she experienced with the SADC family at various levels. She affirmed the collaborative efforts made in the development of regional health programmes and initiatives, including the establishment of partnerships to control and eliminate health challenges.
Dr. Namboze highlighted the significant task that the region faces in ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all. She acknowledged SADC's progress towards achieving an acceptable health standard and commended the resilience demonstrated during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a substantial impact on Member States in the region and globally.
Dr. Namboze praised the region for its development of capacity at the national level to prevent, detect, and control disease outbreaks in line with the International Health Regulations, further urging for the strengthening of National Rapid Response Teams and collaborative centers to effectively respond to emergencies, including the development of robust action plans for health security.
H.E Magosi extended his well wishes to Dr. Namboze on her future endeavors and congratulated her for the outstanding work she has accomplished at both country and regional level. He also expressed appreciation for the contribution of WHO in the region, particularly during difficult times when faced with multiple public health crisis.
He also acknowledged the support received from WHO in the ongoing multi-country interventions against the outbreak of cholera in 2023, which includes provision of technical assistance, response, and streamlining procurement of essential supplies.
H.E Magosi emphasized the importance of SADC investing in mechanisms that enhance monitoring and response capabilities, building capacity, and adopting appropriate strategies for the prevention and control of all forms of diseases
Furthermore, he highlighted the need for SADC to prioritise building capacity in vaccine development including manufacturing of essential medicines through capitalization of the pooled procurement initiative, underlining that the initiative promotes a harmonised procurement strategy for essential medicines and contributes to improving the availability of essential medicines and attainment of health security .
Dr. Namboze, was accompanied by Dr. Juliet Bataringaya, the newly appointed acting WHO Representative in Botswana, while the Executive Secretary was accompanied by Ms. Duduzile Simelane, Director of Social and Human Development at the SADC Secretariat.
