News

University of Botswana Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Medicine in partnership with Council on Educational Exchange (CIEE) organised a community service and health fair for Kgope residents in the Kweneng District on October 28, 2022. CIEE is a non-profit organization and one of the oldest study abroad and intercultural exchange organization in the United States of America. The organization has been operating in Botswana since 2008 and is based at the University of Botswana.

The aim of the health fair was to raise awareness and to educate the community on public health issues. Additionally, food hampers were donated to the less privileged members of society.

CIEE students conducted community assessments prior to the health fair to identify public health challenges in the village. The students also organised a mini-career fair at the expo to offer career guidance to students from Kgope Primary School. The students also received stationery in the form of pencils, pens and erasers from CIEE.

Further, the residents had the opportunity to interact with health professionals from the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, Kweneng District Health Management Team, Botswana Association of Family Physicians, Council of International Students Exchange Education, Botswana Optometrists Association, Anti-Tobacco Network, Norvatis pharmaceuticals and Botswana University of Maryland School of Medicine Health Initiative (BUMMHI).

The residents gathered at the Kgotla where they underwent medical check-ups for conditions such a blood pressure, Body Mass Index, temperature, sugar, cholesterol, eye testing, cancer, HIV testing, TB screening, partner testing and blood donation. One of the CIEE students led a group yoga class while Family Medicine and Public Health Medicine trainees spent time at the Kgope Health Post and clinics in Lentsweletau consulting patients on the day.

Residents were also offered counselling on non-communicable diseases. The community was also advised on eating healthy foods and regular physical activity.

Speaking at the ceremony, acting Head of the Department of Public in the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Tiny Masupe, said the country was currently experiencing a pandemic on non-communicable diseases hence underscoring the need for community health fairs for effective education and intervention efforts to address the challenges.

Professor Masupe further said non communicable diseases were driven by forces such as unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, exposure to tobacco use or harmful use of alcohol, ageing and many others. She added that non-communicable diseases could be prevented and controlled through testing and exercising as well as healthy lifestyle.

For her part, Kgope traditional head, Ms Victoria Kgosimokgalo, applauded UB for the continued support and care to Kgope community. She also encouraged the community to open up to health officials in consultations but appreciated the community for responding to the call in large numbers.