Rest in Peace Dr Mbuka!!!

It is with great sorrow to announce the passing of Dr O. D. Mbuka a doctor under the Faculty of Medicine who was stationed in Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital.

Dr Mbuka passed away on the Sunday 14^th April 2024 in Maun due to short illness. 

Let us keep Dr Mbuka's family in our prayers during this difficult time.

Funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.🕊🕊

Professor Andy Chebanne retires from University of Botswana after an Illustrious Career

 Professor Andersson Chebanne has retired after 40 years working for the University of Botswana (UB). No other linguist in Botswana has delved into the study and publication of Botswana languages as extensively as Andy Chebanne.

Over the past four decades, he has devoted his life to the examination of Setswana, Ikalanga, and diverse Khoisan languages, addressing contentious matters such as language in education and linguistic rights for marginalised communities. Professor Chebanne has had a profound impact on the domain of language and linguistics in Botswana and Africa at large.

Anderson Chebanne, fondly called Andy, was born on the 21st August 1959 in Nswawzi in the Tutume District. He started primary school in the same village and then moved to Mater Spei College in Francistown for his junior and senior secondary education taking science subjects. He attempted sciences at the University of Botswana and Swaziland (UBS) and then switched to the Humanities. He left for France before finishing his Degree in the Humanities

In France, he undertook a Licence in Language Sciences, then read for a Master of Arts in Languages Sciences and Pedagogy. In 1987, he pursued an MPhil in Languages Sciences and then proceeded to embark on his Doctorate in Languages Sciences which he completed in 1991. His doctorate supervisor was Denis Creissels with whom he went on to publish a pioneering book, Tonal Morphology of the Setswana Verb.

He was recruited by the University of Botswana in 1983, joining as a Staff Development Fellow (SDF) in French. In 1984 he was promoted to lectureship and appointed a Faculty Tutor the following year, a post he held for two years until 1987. In 1991 after completing his doctoral studies, he returned to being a Faculty Tutor. He was appointed Deputy Dean of Humanities in 1998 after attaining the rank of Senior Lecturer, a post he held until 2004. During his administrative role as a Faculty Tutor and Deputy Dean, he continued to pursue research on the languages of Botswana, mainly Setswana, and Ikalanga.

https://www.ub.bw/news/professor-andy-chebanne-retires-university-botswana-after-illustrious-career

Breast Cancer Awareness 2023!

 

FAMILY MEDICINE AND PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CONFERENCE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

 

                                                        UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA

                                                          FACULTY OF MEDICINE

Call for Application for Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery Degree (MBBS) August 2023

Background: The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Botswana (UB) offers both under-graduate (MBBS) and post-graduate (MMed) degrees. The Faculty prides itself with following the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) standards and a problem-based learning approach, working with local health centres (clinics and hospitals) as well as health professional bodies.

Please be informed that the University of Botswana undergraduate study programmes are all registered with the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA).

This announcement invites applications for the undergraduate training programme, the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), in the Faculty, for the August 2023 enrollment. The MBBS programme is fully accredited with the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA). For more information about UB programmes please visit the following UB websites: (www.ub.bw) and (www.ubotho.net).

All who successfully complete this programme will be awarded an MBBS degree from the University of Botswana and will qualify for registration with the Botswana Health Professions Council as medical practitioners.

Entry Requirements:

1. Applicants may be admitted upon successful completion of Level 100 of Bachelor of Science (General) programme from University of Botswana or equivalent qualifications from other institutions with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.5. Applicants should have passed Chemistry and two additional science subjects from Mathematics, Biology, Physics with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 for each course.

2. Holders of A’ level qualifications with a minimum grade point of 3.0 in Chemistry and two additional science subjects from Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry Physics will be considered for direct entry into the MBBS programme.

3. Holders of a Bachelor’s degree qualification with a minimum of Second Class Upper Division (2(i)) and had at least two sciences in the first year of the qualification are also eligible to apply.

Please note that re-applications will also be considered, though their Level 100 grades in CHEMISTRY and TWO additional subjects (Biology, Mathematics & Physics) will be used. First applicants who are currently beyond level 100 will be considered as well, and their level 100 grades in CHEMISTRY and two additional subjects (Biology, Mathematics & Physics) will be considered.

Prospective applicants are expected to scan and save separately, preferably in pdf format, all the required documents in readiness for uploading during application:

▪ receipt for a fully paid Application Fee (for external applicants only)

▪ certified copy of the Omang for citizens or Passport for other nationalities

▪ certified copy of transcript(s)

▪ certified copy of post-school qualification (where applicable),

Closing date: Applications will close on 23rd June 2023 for both local and international applicants.

Applicants who fulfil criteria for selection will be shortlisted and will undergo a further selection process. Those who are successful will be notified by mid-July 2023 and must be available to start training at the beginning of August 2023.

For enquiries on the application process contact Mr. Solomon Mogapi at mogapis@ub.ac.bw , +267 355 4763, Mr. Moagisi Mogalakwe at mogalakwem@ub.ac.bw, phone +267 355-2784 or Faculty of Medicine at fomenquiries@ub.ac.bw or +267 355 4189.

INVITATION TO THE UB HYPERTENSION DAY 20/04/2023

 

PHUTHEGO TO RAISE FUNDS FOR HUMAN WILDLIFE CONFLICT VICTIMS IN KAZA COUNTRIES

 Maun based athlete and mountaineering, Simmon Phuthego has launched an organization aimed at raising funds for affected human wildlife conflict victims and promote co-existence, conservation and raising awareness about the situation within the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation (KAZA) countries namely Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

When speaking at Speaking at the first High Level Stakeholder Engagement Breakfast meeting held in Maun recently, where he launched his organization dubbed ‘THE SIMMON PHUTHEGO ORGANISATION’, highlighted that the NGO will raise funding to support adaptation and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict at the local level in all five KAZA countries.

Phuthego first assignment will began next month on the 3rd of December where they will host their inaugural bushwalk in Botswana called ‘THE KAZA CO-EXISTENCE CHARITY BUSH WALK’.

The first beneficiaries of the funds are two victims of crocodile attack in Maun. The duo is Nkoketsang Monnawatsheko, 59, and her daughter Cecilia Monnawatsheko, 40. The two were harvesters of tswii (water lily) that is found in the Okavango and Thamalakane River. They escaped death by a whisker after they were attacked by a deadly crocodile when they were harvesting tswii in 2020. Both women lost an arm after the incident and are now permanently disabled.

The increase in crocodile human conflict could see an increase in poverty levels especially in remote areas since women, who risk their lives to eke a living through harvesting tswii, are mostly the ones affected.

For Monnawatsheko and her daughter Cecilia, their means of survival has drastically changed as they no longer harvest or sell tswii in Maun old mall after their arms were detached by the deadly reptile two years ago.

In a previous interview, Monnawatsheko explained that after the incident the government only paid for medical expenses then abandoned them without any monetary compensation despite being permanently disabled.

Only a few companies came to their rescue to buy them groceries but it is not sustainable and they appeal to the government to at least compensate them with a living allowance to sustain their lives than to rely on donations from Good Samaritans.

The NGO will also assist the family with artificial hands and groceries and will also be counselled for trauma.