Promise kept – Ramaotwana
Larona Makhaiza | Wednesday September 17, 2025 06:38
In recent years, Botswana has been embroiled in issues of a shortage of medicines. Things took a turn for the worse earlier this year, prompting President Duma Boko to declare a state of public health emergency to address the deteriorating health sector.
In an effort to address this scourge that poses a great risk to the lives of Batswana, the country has recently received a medical consignment from Dubai following Boko’s working visits to the country in the Persian Gulf.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ramaotwana said the consignment speaks exactly to the promises that the Umbrella for Democratic Change has made to Batswana.
“Today, we are not just welcoming a consignment of medicines. We are affirming a solemn promise — that the health of Batswana remains at the heart of our national development agenda,” Ramaotwana said.
Ramaotwana further said this is a big milestone for them to receive this consignment, as it will help simmer down the shortage of medicinal drugs that has tormented the country for too long.
“I have witnessed firsthand the pain that medicine shortages bring to families — the uncertainty for patients living with chronic conditions, the anxiety of parents with sick children, and the immense pressure placed on our healthcare professionals. This is why today’s milestone is so deeply significant.
In addition, the minister said the consignment would restore confidence that most people were starting to lose in their government and, most importantly, save lives, which is their primary goal.
“The consignment we receive today, facilitated through the Unity Healthcare Botswana Partnership, is not only about filling shelves in hospitals and clinics. It is about restoring confidence, saving lives, and sending a clear message that Botswana will not compromise on the health of its people,” he said.
Though Ramaotwana is jovial over the arrival of the medical consignment, he acknowledged that the fight against this crisis is not yet over, and they will continue to ensure that everything is solved.
“But let me be clear: today’s achievement is not the end. It is the beginning of a new standard, a standard where urgency, innovation, and collaboration define how we respond to the needs of our people,” he said.
He urged the country to remain patient as they continue to address the issues bedevilling the government.