Botswana’s President Duma Boko declared a public health emergency on Monday after the country’s medical supply chain collapsed, leaving hospitals and clinics with severe shortages of medicines and essential supplies.
Boko announced that the military would take control of an emergency distribution plan, with the first trucks scheduled to leave the capital, Gaborone, for remote areas by evening.
The health ministry had warned in early August that stocks were running dangerously low due to unspecified financial difficulties, prompting the postponement of all non-urgent surgeries.
“The medical supply chain as run by central medical stores has failed,” Boko said in a televised address.
“This failure has led to a severe disruption to health supplies countrywide.”
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He said the finance ministry had approved 250 million pula ($17.35 million) in emergency funds to buy medicines and other essentials.
Botswana’s finances have been strained this year by a prolonged downturn in the global diamond market, where the country is the leading producer by value, according to Reuters
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has also cut funding that previously supported Botswana’s health system.
A government spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about whether the U.S. funding cut played a role in the crisis.
Boko also highlighted inflated procurement prices and losses caused by inefficiencies in the existing distribution system.
In a statement issued on August 4, the health ministry said it owed 1 billion pula to private health facilities and suppliers, worsening the supply problems.
The ministry said medicines for conditions such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes, tuberculosis, asthma, eye and mental health issues, and sexual and reproductive health were running out. It also reported shortages of surgical dressings and sutures.
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Image Credit: Reuters
