Speaking at the recent launch of Botswana TB Caucus in Gaborone, Ookeditse explained that the World Health Organisation (WHO) continuously inform government that TB remains one of the top infectious killer diseases worldwide, claiming millions of lives each year. He said that plain reality underscored the urgency of their mission that there was no better time than now to invest in strategies that would help them end TB by 2030. “In Botswana, TB continues to pose a significant health challenge. Botswana registered 3, 251 TB cases in the year 2023. However, the World Health Organisation estimates indicate that Botswana is still missing half of its TB cases owing to programmatic and operational gaps in case finding, diagnostics and supply chain management amongst others. Recent reviews by the WHO and UNAIDS have indicated a concerning decline in political commitment and resource allocation towards TB response in different countries,” he said. The Assistant Minister added that the situation had been exacerbated by the diversion of attention and resources to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he explained that to reverse that trend, the Botswana National TB Programme (BNTP), in partnership with civil society organisations, decided to launch the TB caucus. He pointed out that the initiative aimed to rekindle political will and unite all stakeholders dedicated to ending TB.
Furthermore, he said WHO emphasised that political commitment was crucial in the response to TB. He added that the first principle of its ‘End TB Strategy’ focused on government stewardship and accountability, alongside adequate resources for TB care and prevention. Ookeditse highlighted that aligned perfectly with Botswana’s National TB Strategic Plan (2025-2029), which aimed to enhance political commitment and mobilize domestic resources for TB control. Moreover, he explained that in 2014, leaders from five continents signed the Barcelona Declaration on Tuberculosis, committing to sustained action and significant investment in the fight against TB. He said the declaration was a watershed moment, recognizing TB as a critical public health challenge requiring urgent political action.
