GABORONE, Botswana – Botswana has declared a public health emergency after the country was hit by severe shortages of essential medicines and medical equipment, sparking nationwide concern.
President Duma Boko, speaking in Gaborone on Monday, announced a multimillion-dollar response plan that includes deploying the military to oversee emergency distribution of drugs and supplies to hospitals and clinics.
The declaration follows an admission by the Ministry of Health earlier this month that it was facing “significant challenges,” including growing debts and dwindling medical stock.
“We are facing a crisis that threatens the health and wellbeing of our citizens, and we cannot afford delays in addressing it,” President Boko said.
Officials said military involvement would fast-track deliveries to affected regions, with priority given to intensive care and emergency facilities.
Boko stressed that the intervention was temporary but necessary to “stabilise the system and safeguard lives.”
The president also confirmed that the finance ministry had approved 250 million pula (£13.8m; $18.3m) to cushion the strain.
“The work shall remain nonstop until the entire procurement chain has been fixed,” Boko declared.
Botswana’s fragile economy, which relies heavily on diamond exports, has been shaken by a slump in global demand and recent cuts in US aid. With a population of 2.5 million, the country is also grappling with rising unemployment and poverty, compounding pressure on the health sector.
