Training Doctors for Botswana, 1966 to 2017

Oatlhokwa Nkomazana,∗ Thabo Mokoena,§ Edward Maganu,♦ and Loeto Mazhani♠

Abstract

This piece is a straight forward account of how Botswana trained its medical doctors from the country’s independence in 1966 to 2017, the latter constituting roughly the first decade after the University of Botswana (UB) started to enrol medical students in 2009. By 2008, Botswana was one of the five countries in Sub-Saharan Africa without a medical school. With a relatively high Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Botswana was able to meet some of her medical doctors needs through training doctors in regional and international medical schools and recruitment of expatriate doctors. This strategy was eventually deemed unsustainable, as many of those trained overseas did not return to work in Botswana. After a number of consultative steps, a presidential directive was issued in September 1998 to start a phased medical school at UB. To facilitate this directive a high ranking committee was established to coordinate the planning and resource mobilization for the project. The committee expedited the requisite infrastructural development as well as the development policies and regulations that would enable medical education and training. As part of the phased development of the medical school a four semester pre-medical programme was developed at UB after which students transferred for medical training in four South African and two Australian medical schools. Finally, a fully-fledged medical school at UB enrolled its first class of medical students and specialist trainees in 2009 and 2010. By October 2017 the school had graduated 171 doctors and 21 specialists, significantly increasing the number of Batswana doctors in the country, which stood at only 382 in 2012. Botswana’s brave decision to invest huge resources in training her doctors is already reaping dividends but there are grave challenges and serious concerns boding ill for the facility.

Read here http://journals.ub.bw/index.php/bnr/article/view/1393

Presentation at Okavango Research Institute

You are cordially invited to Round River Conservation Studies' Research Presentations to be held at the University of Botswana’s Okavango Research Institute in Maun on Monday, 10 December 2018, from 10:00am to 11:45am.
Between September and December, RRCS had nine undergraduate students from universities across the United States who assisted in our field surveys and at the same time completed their course credits in Conservation Biology. The students would like to take this opportunity to share their three mini-projects with you from data collected in Khwai, Mababe, Sankuyo and Phuduhudu. The projects broadly touch upon:

i.       Community perceptions on wildlife presence and movement in four villages in Ngamiland
ii.      Dry Season 2018: A status report of Round River's wildlife monitoring in NG18
iii.     Herbivore Monitoring Field Manual: Data collection methodologies and demography kits

We are missing some contact details for some of the invitees and would like to kindly ask Trust Managers to extend this invitation to the Chief Escort Guides, Chairman, Village Chiefs, other representatives of the Trust and community members who may be in Maun at this time.

We are hoping you are able to attend and participate in the discussions that will follow each presentation.

If you know anyone else who may be interested in attending and is not on the above list, please feel free to invite him or her.

Best regards,

--

Samara Moreira Müller

Conservation Scientist - Botswana

Round River Conservation Studies

The Human Library

THE HUMAN LIBRARY

The Human Library Botswana, in partnership with the University of Botswana Library, will hold the first human library event in the country this November.
A human library is an innovative approach that provides a safe space for people to challenge their own stereotypes, assumptions, taboos and prejudices. The concept began in Europe where it was known as the Living Library. It was developed by a Danish youth non-governmental organization called Stop the Violence in an effort to counter violence based on discrimination, over 13 years ago and Human library events have been held in countries in more than 70 countries worldwide. The original event was open eight hours a day for four days straight and featured over fifty different titles. Botswana will be the 7th country to host this event in Africa.

The Human Books participating at the event will be volunteers who have self-identified as a “title” based on their race, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, economic status, ability/disability, or by a particular life experience (for example, “Living with HIV”). Readers (the public) will be given an opportunity to browse through the catalogue of books on display. After selecting a book, they will be issued with a library card and given 30 minutes to “study” the chosen human book, after which they will need to follow a checkout procedure. They may decide to renew the loan or select a different book.

This incredible phenomenon is an effort to celebrate diversity and promote equality by deliberately acknowledging differences in lifestyles, ethnicities, faiths, disabilities, abilities and characteristics that may be stigmatized, in the hope it might provoke an assumption or even prejudice in readers. Interesting, thought-provoking and difficult questions are expected, appreciated and discussed.

Attendance is free event and the public is encouraged to come and share in the experience.

Venue: University of Botswana Library Foyer
Date: 24th November 2018
Time: 0900hrs – 1300hrs

Enquiries: Contact Mpho E. Pitse at +267 74177337 or email humanlibrarybw@gmail.com

Heat Wave

HEAT WAVE: TIPS TO STAY COOL

Botswana has of late been experiencing high temperatures with day time temperatures reaching the ranges of 36 - 40 degrees centigrade. This poses an increased health risk and may impact differently on the health of individuals as exposure to such temperatures may lead to heat cramps, heat stroke, heat exhaustion and severe sunburns and complications of chronic diseases such as Hypertension, Asthma, other respiratory illness etc.
The university community is therefore advised to protect themselves against these high temperatures as follows:-
 Drink Plenty of Fluids - Increase your fluid intake regardless of your activity level. During hot weather, you will need to drink more liquid than your thirst indicates. Avoid drinks containing alcohol and try to limit consumption of caffeinated beverages as they cause you to lose more fluid.
 Replace Salt and Minerals - Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body, which are necessary for your body. The best way to replace salt and minerals is to drink fruit juice or a sports beverage.
 Wear Appropriate Clothing and Sunscreen - Wear as little clothing as possible when you are at home.
If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, umbrella along with sunglasses, and put on sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher.
 Slow down. Reduce or cancel strenuous, outdoor activities or reschedule them for the coolest times of the day.
 Take frequent breaks if working outdoors
 Adjust to the Environment - Be aware that any sudden change in temperature, such as an early heat wave, will be stressful to your body.
 NEVER leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles

MASISI FACES DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS

President Mokgweetsi Masisi is facing a vicious push back from the all powerful tourism old boys’ network which was the invisible force behind former President Ian Khama’s administration.

The recent elephants’ massacre propaganda war waged by tourism interests against the Masisi administration is believed to be part of a big “death by a thousand cuts” strategy employed by former President Khama’s allies to chip Masisi’s power.

Former President Khama is part of a powerful international network of photographic safari operators with financial interest in the Botswana tourism industry.

The network is mobilizing to protect the gains it made under former President Lt Gen Ian Khama in their long battle with trophy hunting safari operators.

Fighting the photographic safaris corner alongside Khama is Mike Chase Director of Elephant Without Borders (EWB) who last week shared an unconfirmed report with the international media breaching his contractual agreements with his employer, Ministry of Environment, Wildlife, and Tourism (MEWT).

Addressing a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sitting on Friday Permanent Secretary at MEWT Thato Raphaka said the right to disseminate that kind of information lies with the Ministry and not the contractor, EWB.

He said they were still investigating the motive behind Chase’s rash behaviour with a view to hand the matter over to the Attorney Generals Chambers for possible litigation. “His actions amount to breach of contract,” Raphaka said.

Even worse, it has emerged that Chase has failed to substantiate claims of the ‘87’ poached elephants that he alluded to in his controversial report that went viral last week. Instead of the alleged 87, only seven elephant remains were spotted by the team of Botswana Defence Force (BDF), Department of Wildlife and National Parks, and other security organs that went to investigate.

Sources close to the old boys’ network insist that Mike Chase’s elephants massacre claims are less about protecting elephants and more about defending vested interests.

Read more http://www.sundaystandard.info/masisi-faces-death-thousand-cuts

Exhibition

Do not miss OKAVANGO ARTISTS ASSOCIATION's annual members exhibition. Official opening, Thursday 30th August 2018, at the Nhabe Museum, Maun. 6pm. The greatest visual artists in the region - paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, baskets, crafts, beadworks, etc!

Coffee made from Botswana

This coffee is a product made by a Motswana woman from Kolonkwaneng. It's made from Motlopi (Shepherd Tree).You can get yourself one for only P25.00 at my book launch on September 7th.Only locally made products will be sold at the stalls.Venue will be announced by Friday.

The LEA Tsabong office has been mentoring and monitoring her progress since inception.Mpho Leboane and Mbaki Letso Moiteelasilo have been quite helpful in assisting her with marketing #proudlyBW

University of Botswana Medical School

Since its inception in 2009, the UB Medical School has so far graduated 200 doctors and most of whom practise in public hospitals - Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Dr Oatlhokwa Nkomazana.

Exhibition at Nhabe Museum

Exhibitions are an opportunity for a large number of buyers and sellers in an industry to come into a direct contact with each other at the same time.They offer an unparalleled and ideal opportunity to show case products and services to a highly targeted audience. For such reasons, Nhabe Museum will conduct a market craft on the 25th of August at 0900hrs to 1500hrs. This will help our local artists establish and maintain good relations with their customers. This event will be free.

Association between depression in carers and malnutrition in children aged 6 months to 5 years

Authors: Keneilwe Motlhatlhedi, Vincent Setlhare, Adewale B.Ganiyu, Jacqueline A. Firth

Childhood malnutrition is an important risk factor for child mortality and underlies close to 50% of child deaths worldwide.1,2 Reducing the prevalence of malnutrition may contribute to the success of child survival strategies.2 In order to curb the high prevalence of malnutrition, it is important to identify and address all factors that contribute to poor child nutrition. Depression, one of the most prevalent mental illnesses, is more common in women of child-bearing age,3 and maternal depression has been linked to poor child growth outcomes in developing countries.4,5 Globally, an estimated 350 million people suffer from depression with higher prevalence in lowand middle-income countries. A South African study estimated depression prevalence rates of 9.7%, while two studies in Botswana found depression prevalence of 25% and 31%. Both studies in Botswana may be an overestimation of the population prevalence of depression in the country as they were done in high HIV prevalence settings and HIV is associated with higher depression levels.6,7 Inclusion of mental health screening of PCGs could help develop more efficacious child nutrition programmes and identify children at higher risk of poor outcomes.

Read full text here https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm/article/view/1270/1948

Here's what parents should really do about kids who are picky eaters: COLUMN

The dinner table can be a war zone. Peas end up in mommy’s hair, tears and screams abound, and the term "full" can only be used to describe the floor. Is this battle of parents versus picky eaters even worth fighting? A new study in the medical journal Appetite shows that picky toddlers who are pressure fed by their parents don't grow at healthier rates and don't stop their picky-eating behaviors.

As a child psychiatrist, I agree. The emotional cost of getting a few vitamins in their vegetables just does not outweigh the numerous benefits of making dinner a fun, nurturing experience. Forcing children to eat something they don't want to eat isn't good for their physical, emotional or psychological health.

Here's why, and what families should focus on instead.

Parents, many of whom were required when they were kids to clean their plates before leaving the table, might say that their goal for pressuring their kids to eat is to help their children become less picky with food and to make sure that their kids maintain healthy growth. This rarely ends up having the intended benefit. The new study just examined over 200 picky-eating toddlers and showed that pressuring kids to eat just didn't help. The kids in the study were ages 2 to 6, which is prime time for refusing greens as their growth slows, and their appetites follow.

Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, a pediatrician who is an ABC News contributor, weighs in. "Little babies eat frequently and triple their weight in the first year of life," she says. "But it's normal for their growth and appetites to slow after that, and for them to start telling us what they like."

Read more https://abcnews.go.com/Health/parents-kids-picky-eaters-column/story?id=56927222

UNFPA Botswana

We are committed to building a strong data ecosystem.Everything should be supported by data so that we can effectively inform policy,decision making and activities that will make the monitoring of the #SDGs a success in Botswana. ~Dr. Mguni [SDGs indicators Baseline Workshop]

New University of Botswana Chancellor!

MS LINAH KELEBOGILE MOHOHLO APPOINTED THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA
The nation is informed that his Excellency the President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, acting in accordance with Section 7 of the University of Botswana Act of 2008, has appointed Ms Linah Kelebogile Mohohlo as the Chancellor of the University of Botswana for a period of (5) years effective the 19th of July 2018 to 18 June 2023.
https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1022413663368605696

Bullying, Cyberbullying, and Suicide

Abstract

Empirical studies and some high-profile anecdotal cases have demonstrated a link between suicidal ideation and experiences with bullying victimization or offending. The current study examines the extent to which a nontraditional form of peer aggression—cyberbullying—is also related to suicidal ideation among adolescents. In 2007, a random sample of 1,963 middle-schoolers from one of the largest school districts in the United States completed a survey of Internet use and experiences. Youth who experienced traditional bullying or cyberbullying, as either an offender or a victim, had more suicidal thoughts and were more likely to attempt suicide than those who had not experienced such forms of peer aggression. Also, victimization was more strongly related to suicidal thoughts and behaviors than offending. The findings provide further evidence that adolescent peer aggression must be taken seriously both at school and at home, and suggest that a suicide prevention and intervention component is essential within comprehensive bullying response programs implemented in schools.

Read more here https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13811118.2010.494133?src=recsys

Consumer Health Information Literacy Promotion Program in Public and Community Libraries in Africa

The aim of this project was to enhance the capacity of public and community librarians in four Africancountries (Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe) in meeting the consumer health information (CHI) needs of their patrons. A total of 65 librarians from 34 public and community libraries were trained on how to access and use consumer health information resources by health sciences librarians in the selected countries. A needs assessment preceded the training that focused on health literacy, healthinformation literacy, sources of health information, online information searching tools and search techniques, and how to search CHI resources, including Kidshealth.org, Womenshealth.gov, MedlinePlus, and CancerNet, among others. Each team of participating libraries received a seed grant to design and implement a consumer health activity. The trained public and community librarians in both Nigeria and Uganda conducted training on use of CHI resources to different categories of patrons. In Nigeria, high school students were trained on how to use their mobile phone to access CHI resources. Adolescents and other categories of library patrons were trained on information and communication technology (ICT) skills and accessing CHI resources in Uganda. In Kenya, the public librarian created a Consumer HealthInformation Corner and purchased CHI books for patrons to consult, while in Zimbabwe, the publiclibrary partnered with other non-governmental organizations to provide consumer health informationmaterials to the library for patron use. It is possible for academic health sciences librarians to partner with public and community librarians in Africa to carry out a successful CHI project

Read more https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15398285.2017.1376180

Joseph Matshelo: The walking library: Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Joseph Matshelo: The walking library: Makgadikgadi Salt Pans: Northeast of Africa’s  Kalahari Desert  and southeast of the  Okavango Delta  lies one of the largest salt pans in the world. It was once t...

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Northeast of Africa’s Kalahari Desert and southeast of the Okavango Delta lies one of the largest salt pans in the world. It was once the site of one of the largest inland seas on Earth.

On June 10, 2018, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this natural-color image of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. The collection of salt flats covers roughly 30,000 square kilometers (10,000 square miles) amidst desert and dry savanna in Botswana. Located in Makgadikgadi National Park and Nxai Pan National Park, the salt pans are rivaled in extent only by the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia.

For much of the year, the salt pans glimmer in white, parched by the sun and the salt and allowing little more than algae to grow. But during the rainy season (roughly November to March), the area can be transformed into a crucial wetland.

Read more https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/92394/makgadikgadi-salt-pans

Poetavango: Cold Bold Winter Nights

WIN A TICKET TO THE COLD BOLD WINTER WORDS POETRY GALA! HOW?

1. Share this post on your wall.
2. Tag lots of friends
3. Create hype on the post you’ve shared by getting as many likes, comments, reactions and
further shares from your share as possible.
4. By end of Friday 29th, the sharer with a larger total of likes, comments, reactions and further
shares wins the ticket!
5. Start now and make the loudest noise!

Flow : Information for Okavango Delta Planning: Bachelor of Pharmacy

Flow : Information for Okavango Delta Planning: Bachelor of Pharmacy: The University of Botswana and Faculty of Health Sciences are proud to announce a Bachelor of Pharmacy Programme tenable at the Universit...

Flow : Information for Okavango Delta Planning: King Mswati III - Tour Okavango Delta

Flow : Information for Okavango Delta Planning: King Mswati III - Tour Okavango Delta: His Majesty, King Mswati III of the Kingdom of eSwatini arrived in Botswana last night. While in Botswana, he will tour the Okavango Delta....

DATA PROTECTION BILL TO ENSURE PRIVACY

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhi brought before Parliament, a bill seeking to regulate the protection of personal data and ensure that the privacy of individuals is maintained, on June 25.

In his presentation of the bill, Minister Molefhi noted that the while Section 9 of the constitution guaranteed the right to privacy as one of the fundamentals rights and freedoms of an individual,
sensitive personal data related to an individual and revealed amongst other things, a person’s racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, sexual and personal financial information.
https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1011865956967215105

Session Title: Improving Data Repository Trustworthiness

Session Description:

The opportunity to continually access and use research data is necessary for scientific progress, validation, and for subsequent studies to build on the work of previous research. Producers, users, funders, and managers of research data need to know whether the digital repositories that are accepting the responsibility for the stewardship of research data will be managing the data and related information within their collections in accordance with established and accepted practices for managing and caring for digital research data.

The Core Trustworthy Data Repositories Requirements (CoreTrustSeal) have been developed to provide specifications for assessing digital repositories as trustworthy stewards of data. Based on the Open Archival Information Systems (OAIS) Reference Model and on previous instruments for assessing data repositories (e.g. the Data Seal of Approval), the sixteen CoreTrustSeal requirements are being actively used by the research data community. The CoreTrustSeal is also used by several consortia and federations to assess data repositories. Examples include the World Data System (WDS) for its Regular Members, the US NASA Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) for its Digital Active Archives, and the CLARIN – European Research Infrastructure for Language Resources and Technology for its B-Centres.

The CoreTrustSeal requirements provide an opportunity for data repositories to continually improve their capabilities and services for managing and distributing their data holdings. Furthermore, the CoreTrustSeal requirements offer an opportunity for data repositories to conduct self-assessments and to identify areas of their own data repository practices that are in need of improvement. Adopting the CoreTrustSeal requirements also enables data repositories to demonstrate their commitment to the stewardship of research data.

This session presents panelists who will introduce the CoreTrustSeal requirements, explain the certification process, and provide case studies of experiences that data repositories have encountered in their efforts to improve the trustworthiness of their data stewardship practices by means of core certification.

Session Organizers: Wim Hugo, Ingrid Dillo, Robert R. Downs, Mustapha Mokrane

●        1 presentation about CTS in general

●        2 case studies of preferably African seal holders

●        panel discussion

https://www.scidatacon.org/IDW2018/sessions/149/ 

MY GUIDE TO EXPLORING MAUN, BOTSWANA

MY GUIDE TO EXPLORING MAUN, BOTSWANA

2018 Global Peace Index!

2018 GLOBAL PEACE INDEX |@GlobPeaceIndex has ranked Botswana 2nd in Africa, 29th in the world @OfficialMasisi #UnitedAndProud #BlueBlackAndWhite #GPI @Go_Botswana @OfficialBrandBW http://visionofhumanity.org/app/uploads/2018/06/Global-Peace-Index-2018-2.pdf …

DRUG ABUSE INFLICTS SLUGGISH ECONOMIC GROWTH

Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo @BogoloKenewendo says an understanding of the economic costs of drug abuse is necessary to develop policies that will assist in reducing drug abuse.
Contributing on the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances bill debate in Parliament on June 15, Ms Kenewendo said drug abuse inflict immeasurable harm on the country’s economy.
https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/1009323930069471232

Book launch at Maun Lodge

Please find your invitation below and attached.  We would appreciate you forwarding this invitation to any interested parties who might like to join us.

Please be sure to R.S.V.P to Yolisa Madzidzela YMadzidzela@penguinrandomhouse.co.za

Botswana's Adjustments & Reorientation to our Immigration position

In the spirit of reforming ease of doing business in Botswana cabinet has decided to make adjustments & reorientation to our immigration position. Investors who have been struggling with VISAs, permits etc will now be facilitated expeditiously as possible-@OfficialMasisi

Addressing the annual High Level Consultative Council #HLCC this morning, President Masisi expressed concerns to the declining position of Botswana in the #DoingBusinessReport rankings in the ease of doing business.
https://twitter.com/BWGovernment/status/999600129559625728

UNFPA Uganda

In Uganda every year, about 1,900 women get fistula. In 2017, @UNFPAUganda supported, through @MinofHealthUG and other partners, 1,350 women with fistula to receive free treatment, accounting for 67% of the 2,045 cases repaired countrywide. #LiveYourDreamUG

Open Market!

Nhabe Museum and the Okavango Artists take immense pleasure in inviting the public to attend theopen market which will be held at Nhabe Museum on the 26th of May 2018 from 0900hrs to 1500hrs. The main aim of this market is to give artist (wood cavers, painters, basket weavers) a platform to showcase their talent, to serve product designers, interact with consumers and to promote the museum as a suitable home for all small artifacts, photographic materials and other ephemera relating to the history of Ngamiland. Thus do make it for the exhibition along with your friends and family. Dont be left out.
sculptures, paintings, drawings, baskets and beads will be on sale

Congo to begin Ebola vaccinations on Monday

MBANDAKA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Health workers in Democratic Republic of Congo will begin a vaccination campaign on Monday aimed at containing an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, a spokeswoman for the health ministry said.

Jessica Ilunga said 4,000 doses of vaccine were shipped on Saturday to Mbandaka, which last week registered the first cases in an urban area since the latest flare-up of the disease was announced earlier this month.

Cases in Mbandaka, a port city on the Congo river, have raised concerns that the virus could spread downstream to the capital Kinshasa, which has a population of 10 million.

The outbreak is Congo’s ninth since the disease made its first known appearance near the vast central African country’s northern Ebola river in the 1970s. An Ebola epidemic killed more than 11,300 people in West Africa in 2013 to 2016.

“I don’t know how to protect myself against Ebola. God alone can protect me from this illness,” said Lusya Mbangu, who was selling fish at Mbandaka’s bustling floating market on Sunday.

Read more here https://af.reuters.com/article/africaTech/idAFKCN1IM0SD-OZATP