Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 May 27:39:82.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2021.39.82.28314. eCollection 2021.

University of Botswana Public Health Medicine Unit contributions to the national COVID-19 response

Keatlaretse Siamisang  1   2 , Dineo Kebadiretse  1   2 , Tiny Masupe  1
Affiliations

University of Botswana Public Health Medicine Unit contributions to the national COVID-19 response

Keatlaretse Siamisang et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in January 2020 and a pandemic in March 2020. Botswana reported its first case on 30th March 2020 and as of 31st January 2021 had 21,293 cases and 46 deaths. The University of Botswana Public Health Medicine Unit has made significant contributions to the national preparedness and response to COVID-19. The program alumni and Public Health Medicine residents have and continue to provide key technical support to the Ministry of Health and Wellness across the major pillars of COVID-19. This includes key roles in national and subnational coordination and planning, surveillance, case investigations and rapid response teams, points of entry, travel and transportation, infection prevention and control and case management. The unit is thus supporting the country in achieving the World Health Organization (WHO) primary objective of limiting human-to-human transmission, optimal care of the affected and maintaining essential services during the outbreak. The Public Health Medicine Unit has played a key role in capacity building including early rapid COVID-19 training of healthcare workers across the country. Furthermore faculty members and residents are involved in several COVID-19 research projects and collaborations.

Keywords: COVID-19; Public Health Medicine; University of Botswana; response.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

References

    1. Reuben RC, Danladi MMA, Saleh DA, Ejembi PE. Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19: an epidemiological survey in North-Central Nigeria. J Community Health. 2021 Jun;46(3):457–470. - PMC - PubMed
    1. World Health Organisation Operational planning guidelines to support country preparedness and response. 2020. May 22, Accessed 12th October 2020.
    1. World Health Organisation . Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): data as received by WHO from national authorities, as of 11th October 2020. Accessed 12th October 2020.
    1. World Health Organisation . 2020. Jul 19, Bordering Africa's Epicenter: how early action and careful border control policies have so far contained COVID-19 to clusters.
    1. Motlhatlhedi K, Bogatsu Y, Maotwe K, Tsima B. Coronavirus disease 2019 in Botswana: contributions from family physicians. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2020 Jul 9;12(1):e1–e3. - PMC - PubMed