Botswana’s President Duma Boko has declared a public health emergency due to a shortage of medicines, saying the national medical supply chain has failed, leaving hospitals and clinics short of medicines and other essential stocks.
Boko said the military would lead an emergency distribution drive, and the first vehicles would leave the capital, Gaborone, to be distributed to remote areas.
Meanwhile, the health ministry in Southern Africa warned earlier this month that supplies of medicines were running low due to financial challenges.
The minister has approved $17.35 million in emergency funding to buy more supplies.
However, Botswana’s budget has been hampered this year by a prolonged downturn in the global diamond market, as it is the world’s leading producer of diamonds.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has also cut funding supporting the health sector in Botswana.
