In a proactive effort to safeguard public health, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks LLC, will on 16 September 2024 introduce a pathogen (disease causing micro-organisms) monitoring program in certain ports of entry. 

The Ministry’s spokesperson, Christopher Nyanga said “Ginkgo Bioworks LLC is an American company that specialises in bio-surveillance, biosecurity and public health capacity building. This new initiative is part of government’s efforts to strengthen detection of new and emerging public health threats across Botswana’s borders.

The program will be piloted at key entry points like Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone and Kazungula One Stop Border in Kazungula. Additionally, waste water samples will be collected at the Botswana Meat Commission abattoir in Lobatse. The process is designed to be quick, efficient, and non-intrusive, allowing participants to provide samples easily upon arrival.

Travellers arriving by air will have an opportunity to participate upon disembarking. While samples from those arriving by road, will also be taken at the entry point. Although participation in this initiative, is entirely voluntary, travellers are encouraged to participate, because this early detection of pathogens, is meant to safeguard the health of all citizens, visitors and residents of this country. The samples collected will be kept anonymous.

The data collected from the samples, will be vital in strengthening the country’s robust health system and response to public health threats and emergencies. 

The Ministry of Health assures Batswana and all residents of this country that this is a good initiative that they should all embrace. This will truly go a long way in ensuring that Botswana remains a critical player in global health affairs as evidenced by its discovery of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in 2022.”