GABORONE, Jan. 24– The government of Botswana is leveraging public-private partnerships to address the backlog of orthopaedic surgeries, the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday. The initiative aligns with the country’s goal of achieving universal health coverage for all citizens, the ministry said. “This deliberate decision has been made to restore health and improve the quality of life for patients and their families,” said Ministry of Health Spokesperson Christopher Nyanga. Nyanga said that as of December 2024, 120 surgeries had been completed out of the 200 orthopaedic patients on the waiting list at Princess Marina Hospital, the country’s largest referral facility, located in the capital, Gaborone. “Many of these cases involved trauma patients who sustained physical injuries, such as those resulting from accidents,” Nyanga noted, adding that the ministry is implementing new initiatives to permanently address surgical backlogs in other areas, including eye surgeries and gynecology.
Xinhua proud partner of the African Youth Newspaper
