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Ministry of Health

Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance Services)

Overview

This service includes the treatment and transportation of “emergency” patients who are acutely ill or who have sustained injuries. Emergency services is dedicated to providing out of hospital, intra-hospital and inter-hospital treatment.

An “emergency” is an incident where a person experiences a life threatening or potentially life-threatening situation resulting from illness or accident which require urgent treatment and transport to a medical facility. 

Who is eligible?

Citizens and non-citizens residing in Gaborone, Mochudi, Lobatse, Mahalapye, Palapye, Phikwe, Francistown, Maun and Kasane.

How do I get this service?
  • Dial 997 and provide the following information:
  • Location of the patient (street address, landmark)
  • What happened? What caused the injury?
  • The number of patients
  • Your call back number
  • In addition to the above steps, please take note of the following roles you may play in an Emergency situation
  • Please do not crowd emergency scenes to allow the health care workers to execute their work
  • Do not use the emergency line for prank and non-emergency calls
  • Give way to an ambulance with light (and or sirens on)
  • Please only call when you have emergencies
  • Please cooperate with the dispatcher
  • Please listen to the dispatcher’s advice on how to give first aid while waiting
  • Keep Calm
What supporting documents are required?
  • A valid National Identity card (Omang). 
  • Passport for non-citizens
How long will this service take?

A minimum of 10 minutes

Where can I obtain this service?

The service is available in the following places: Gaborone, Mochudi, Lobatse, Mahalapye, Palapye, Phikwe, Francistown, Maun and Kasane.

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?

No cost

Keywords

Emergency Medical Services, EMS, 997

Ministry submitting this Service

Health Guidelines for Ports of Entry

Overview

Port Health is responsible for inspection of;

  • Goods
  • Good commodities
  • Chemicals
  • Conveyances; that is trucks, aircraft, cars, buses
  • Travelers for yellow fever and diseases in surveillance and create a safe environment at ports of entry through pest control, waste management, inspection of point of entry, water quality and monitoring. The Division also ensures safe cross border transportation of dead bodies.

These are guidelines for the prevention and control of the international spread of diseases and other public health threats at designated points of entry; that is airports and land crossings into Botswana.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness advises the public to be aware of the import of the following:

  • Unsafe and poor quality goods.
  • Contaminated or adulterated foods. 
  • Hazardous chemicals.
  • Dangerous pesticide formulations.
  • Cosmetics.
  • Plant and prohibited animal products.
  • Any other hazardous chemical and biological materials that may come into Botswana.

In addition to this, the port health service undertakes disease surveillance, screening and reporting of diseases and public health conditions from external sources that may threaten the health and safety of Botswana.

 

Who is eligible?

All travelers and importers need to present themselves to Port Health Office upon arrival in Botswana.

How do I get this service?

Port Health Service is offered at the twelve (12) designated points of entry.

What supporting documents are required?

The following are requirements for all those entering Botswana:

  • Travelers coming to or transiting through Botswana from yellow fever endemic countries must carry valid international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever as it will be demanded at points of entry upon arrival.
  • Chemical clearance letter  and supporting documents if importing chemicals 
  • Clearance from the Ministry of Health and Wellness or other authorized officers when importing a corpse
  • Stamped purchase order if importing medicines
  • Any other measure that may be applied in response to public health events
  • Airliners must complete the Declaration of the Health Part of the Aircraft "General declaration form" by International Civil Aviation Authority and submit to port health officers upon arrival at airports.
  • Aircrafts travelling in from malarial areas, in and outside Botswana, must be disinfected when travelling to non-malarial areas and a proof of disinfection provided to port health officers upon arrival in the Health Part of the Aircraft General Declaration form.
How long will this service take?

It depends on the service required.

Where can I obtain this service?

At the designated points of entry, and these are;

Ramokgwebana Border Post

Ramatlabama Border Post

Pioneer Border Post

Martins Drift Border Post

Tlokweng Border Post

Kazungula Ferry Border Post

Kazungula Road Border Post

Mamuno Border Post

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport

Maun International Airport

Kasane International Airport

PG Matante International Airport

 

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?

No cost

Meta tags

Botswana, Botswana Government, Republic of Botswana, Government of Botswana (mandatory)

Keywords

Transport Guidelines for Ports of Entry, Chemical Clearance, Transporting Corpse, Conveyance of Goods, 

Synonyms

Border Guidelines for Ports of Entry, Transport Guidelines for Ports of Entry

Ministry submitting this Service

Blood Transfusion

Overview

Blood Transfusion Services (BTS) is a national programme that aims to support the recruitment and retention of blood donors.  The donated blood is used to save lives.

Who is eligible?
  • Healthy individuals aged between 16 and 65 years.
  • Weighing more than 50 kilograms (kg).

A healthy person means any individual without an ailment that could be passed on to another person through blood transfusion.

How do I get this service?
  • Visit one of the donation centres and go through the screening process (hemoglobin, blood pressure & weight) and counselling. 
  • Participate during the National Blood Donation campaigns.
What supporting documents are required?
  • National identity card (Omang).
  • Passport for non-citizens.
How long will this service take?

 Immediate

Where can I obtain this service?
  • Blood Donation Centre Francistown host at Barclay Plaza, Tel No: (+267) 2402234/ 30. ​​
  • Gaborone National Blood Transfusion Centre, Old Government Gazette Building, Main Mall, Tel: (+267) 3686700/ 3901134.
  • Molepolole, Scottish Livingstone Hospital.
  • Mahalapye, Mahalapye District Hospital.
  • Serowe, Sekgoma Memorial Hospital.
  • Maun, Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital.
Theme for this service
How much does it cost?

No cost

Keywords

Blood Transfusion Services, Blood Transfusion Services Botswana, Blood Transfusion Gaborone, Blood Transfusion Francistown, Blood Transfusion Serowe, Blood Transfusion Molepolole, Blood Transfusion Mahalapye and Blood Transfusion Maun

Synonyms

Blood Donation, Blood Donation Botswana, Blood Donation Gaborone, Blood Donation Francistown, Blood Donation Serowe, Blood Donation Molepolole, Blood Donation Mahalapye and Blood Donation Maun

Ministry submitting this Service

National ARV Program

Overview

Provision of free Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment to all people who are HIV positive.

Who is eligible?
  • Every person (adults & children) who tests HIV positive in Botswana is eligible to start ARV treatment including non-citizens residing in Botswana.
  • Anyone who tests HIV positive is advised to go to the nearest health facility to start treatment either on the same day or at least within seven days of HIV diagnosis.
How do I get this service?

Visit your nearest public health facility across the country: (Hospitals, Clinics and Health Posts) or private health facility, some of Tebelopele offices and Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA) sites.

What supporting documents are required?
  • National Identity Card (Omang). 
  • Passport for Non-citizens. 
  • HIV positive test result paper.
How long will this service take?

Immediate, i.e. either on the same day or within seven days.

Where can I obtain this service?

All health facilities

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?
  • BWP5.00 consultation fee for citizens.
  • P30 for non-citizens.

Apart from the fees required for all medical consultations, there is no additional cost for ARV treatment. The government provides ARV treatment and HIV related laboratory testing free of charge for all.

Meta tags

The Republic of Botswana, Gaborone.

Keywords

ARV program, ARV, Free ARV, HIV positive, ARV treatment.

Ministry submitting this Service

Immunization Letter

Overview

The service is for the verification of the immunization status of citizens in Botswana by utilising the "Botswana Immunisation Schedule".

This is a necessary document that allows citizens as well as local health professionals to have access to a citizen's immunisation record. The "Immunisation Clearance Letter" is issued by the "Child Health Division".

Who is eligible?

Citizens and residents  

How do I get this service?
  • Submit all supporting documents in person or via email. All email submissions require "certified copies" of the supporting documents.
  • You will be contacted once your "application" has been processed.
What supporting documents are required?
  • Applicable identity.
  • Child Welfare Card (CWC) or under five card or an affidavit in the absence of the card.
How long will this service take?

One (1) working day.

Where can I obtain this service?

Ministry of Health and Wellness Headquarters

Floor 5, Office 5A17 or 5A18

Opening hours are from 07:30 - 12:45 and 13:45 - 16:30, Monday to Friday, except on Public Holidays.​

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?

Free

Meta tags

Botswana, Botswana Government, Republic of Botswana, Government of Botswana (mandatory).

Keywords

Immunisation Clearance Letter, Immunisation Letter, Botswana Immunisation Schedule.

Synonyms

Botswana Immunisation Record, Botswana Immunization Record, Botswana Vaccination Record.

Ministry submitting this Service

Conveyance of Corpse

Overview

The service is for the facilitation of the release of a corpse from a health facility to next of kin/family.

Who is eligible?

Next of kin/family members.

How do I get this service?

Visit Ministry of Health and Wellness Headquarters

Floor 9, Office 9A18 (The service is currently offered at headquarters only)

What supporting documents are required?
  • Three certified copies of death certificate. 
  • Three copies of non-infectious letter from the hospital.
  • Three certified copies of passport of deceased.
  • Three certified copies of passport of the accompanying person with the same surname (in case of different surnames, affidavit from police to be availed).
  • If person died at home, three copies of police affidavit needed.
  • Death certificate should always show cause of death, if not, affidavit from police to be availed to confirm there is no foul play.
How long will this service take?

Immediate.

Where can I obtain this service?
  • Visit Ministry of Health and Wellness Headquarters in Gaborone 
  • Opening hours are from 07:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except public holidays. 

 

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?

There is no cost associated with this service 

Meta tags

Health and Wellness, Public Health Services 

Keywords

Corpse, Conveyance.

Ministry submitting this Service
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