Minister of health and wellness DR Edwin G Dikoloti recives a donation from maryland global initiatives cooperation

This morning Minister of Health and Wellness Hon Edwin G Dikoloti received donation of equipment on behalf of the Government of the Republic Botswana through the Centre for Disease Control and the Maryland Global Initiatives Cooperation from the United States of America. The handover ceremony was dignified by the U.S Ambassador to Botswana H.E Craig Cloud and representatives from Maryland Global Initiatives Cooperation and government officials from the ministry.

When handing over the donation the U.S Ambassador to Botswana H.E Craig Cloud noted that the donation is a demonstration of the U.S. government’s continued commitment in supporting the Government of Botswana.

He also re-emphasize that this donation represents a special and remarkable achievement for the United States-Botswana partnership. The donation includes two vehicles, IT equipment, office furniture, laboratory equipment, a biorepository and a data management centre. He noted that the biorepository and data management centre will assist in the overall disease surveillance and during the critical era of COVID-19 pandemic.

When receiving the equipment, the Hon Dr Edwin Dikoloti expressed his gratitude for the U.S government’s continued support in ensuring delivery of quality health services to Batswana. He noted that the Governments have a long history of cooperation in several sectors across the economy. He emphasized that it is worth noting that their partnership in the fight against HIV/AIDS and TB has been a flagship programme in this cooperation.

He pointed out that His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr Mokgweetsi E.K Masisi, announced the preliminary results from the BAIS V survey at the commemoration of the 2021 World AIDS Day.

The results showed that the country has made tremendous progress towards achieving HIV epidemic control and the outstanding impact of the national HIV response, which has been supported consistently by the US Government.
Post the handover, the Minister and his entourage embarked on a tour of stalls and the data management centre.