MICRO-BIO

• I am the EPI Focal Person atthe WHO country Office Botswana. Iam a RN, Midwife, FNP with Honours Degree in Health Studies and MPH. I worked for the Ministry of Health Botswana in the Public Health/PHC facilities and Health Districts for over 20 year...More

  I am the EPI Focal Person atthe WHO country Office Botswana. Iam a RN, Midwife, FNP with Honours Degree in Health Studies and MPH. I worked for the Ministry of Health Botswana in the Public Health/PHC facilities and Health Districts for over 20 years running Public Health programs. EPI among other programs fascinated me for its impact on the child morbidity and mortality against Vaccine Preventable Diseases. I witnessed Small pox being eradicated when I started work in the 1980s, MNT in 90s and now will soon witness Polio eradication. What a history to write. Although my country Botswana was among one of the poorest when I started work, its adoption of the Primary Health Care (PHC) system made the EPI program and all other Public health programs sustainable. The PHC approach cemented community trust in the health system of the country. The health promotion coupled with intensive health education layed a firm foundation of the PHC in the country. Community members utilize the health health system uncoerced and willingly. Such has lead to the high demand for immunization services in the country. Botswana saw the reduction of the deaths of children resulting from the Immunization coverage and the introduction of the newer and underutilized vaccines such as Rotavirus, Pneumococcal Vaccines, Hib Vaccines and OPV/IPV. Therefore Botswana isa one country that many developing countries can learn from and also learn that cost effective PHC can reap excellent Immunization results like in any other setup of a higher economic status. Government has continually and gradually followed WHO/UN guidelines, strategies and protocals such as the Abuja declaration that encouraged the country to increase its portion of the GDP to 18% above the 15% required. I have been in the system long enough to know what worked and what did not work. In 2010 the Ministry of Health Management intensified the Medical model visa vi PHC and this has lead to serious PHC indicator drop out rates and the country is now bent towards revitalising the PHC and reorganizing the health districts to be more autonomous and be people oriented health systems.

  Less

EXPERIENCE

• WHO

  • NPO/EPI
  • FRH/IVD
  • October 2014 to Present

EDUCATION

• Monash University

  • MPH
  • February 2004 to July 2005

  Brock university Ontario Canada B.A Honors Health Studies 1996 - 1999 Brock University Ontario Canada B.A Health Studies 1996 - 1998 National Health Institute (Princes Marina Hospital Gaborone, Botswana) Family Nurse Practitioner Diploma 1983 – 1984 (1 year) National Health Institute, Gaborone, Botswana Midwifery 1979 – 1980 ( 1 year) National Health Institute Gaborone, Botswana General Nursing 1976 – 1979 (3 years

Links