Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Botswana National Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Reference Laboratory designated World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre of Excellence

Accreditation to these standards does not only allow Botswana’s public laboratories to be compared with the world’s best laboratories, but it also gives confidence to both patients and clinicians that patient management and care are based on correct disease diagnosis

The Republic of Botswana and the World Health Organization today announced designation of the Botswana National HIV Reference Laboratory as a WHO Collaborating Centre of Excellence, in recognition of the laboratory’s excellence in the field of HIV diagnosis and the potential of deeper collaboration with WHO in advancing the health…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529)

WHO commends South Africa and Botswana for the speed and transparency with which they notified and shared information on Omicron

WHO has issued advice to countries on travel, given the circulation of Omicron variant. WHO commends South Africa and Botswana for the speed and transparency with which they notified and shared information on Omicron, allowing other countries to rapidly adjust their response.      While scientific research is underway to…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the Member State Information Session on the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2

“I thank Botswana and South Africa for detecting, sequencing and reporting this variant so rapidly” - WHO Director-General

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends, The emergence of the Omicron variant has understandably captured global attention. The emergence of any new variant should capture our attention, especially one as highly mutated as Omicron. The WHO Secretariat takes this development extremely seriously, and so should all Member States. But…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

UNESCO and WHO urge countries to make every school a health-promoting school

Global standards will be piloted in Botswana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Paraguay

UNESCO and the World Health Organization today launched the Global Standards for Health-promoting Schools, a resource package for schools to improve the health and well-being of 1.9 billion school-aged children and adolescents.  The closure of many schools around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe disruptions to education. …

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus: Boost for global response to COVID-19 as economies worldwide formally sign up to COVAX facility

156 economies, representing roughly 64% of the global population in total, are now either committed to or eligible for the COVAX Facility

64 higher income economies have now joined the COVAX Facility, with a further 38 economies expected to sign in the coming days; these self-financing economies, which include 29 from ‘Team Europe’ participating as part of an agreement with the European Commission, join 92 lower income economies eligible for financial support…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

Coronavirus: Botswana Parliamentarians quarantined

This was after it emerged that one of the nurses providing screening services at parliament tested positive to COVID-19

Botswana’s parliamentarians were shocked this morning when the Minister of Health and Wellness announced to them that they will all be quarantined in Gaborone. This was after it emerged that one of the nurses providing screening services at parliament tested positive to COVID-19. According to the Minister, the results were…

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Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

WHO Executive Board appoints directors for Africa and Europe

Re-appointed Dr Matshidiso Moeti for a second term as WHO Regional Director for Africa

The WHO Executive Board, currently holding its 146th session in Geneva, has re-appointed Dr Matshidiso Moeti for a second term as WHO Regional Director for Africa and Dr Hans Kluge as Regional Director for Europe in his first term. Re-election of the Regional Director for Africa “I am greatly honoured…

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) |

World Health Organization (WHO) recommends dolutegravir as preferred HIV treatment option in all populations

Dolutegravir (DTG) is a drug that is more effective, easier to take and has fewer side effects than alternative drugs that are currently used

Based on new evidence assessing benefits and risks, the WHO recommends the use of the HIV drug dolutegravir (DTG) as the preferred first-line and second-line treatment for all populations, including pregnant women and those of childbearing potential. Initial studies had highlighted a possible link between DTG and neural tube defects…