News

The University of Botswana (UB) School of Nursing in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Center, conducted a four-day leadership training programme for nurses and midwives from the 2nd to 5th of December 2024. The initiative brought together healthcare professionals from across the country with the aim of strengthening leadership in education, practice, research and policy-making to improve healthcare delivery in Botswana.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Gaonyadiwe Lubinda outlined the importance of the training programme in clarifying the roles and responsibilities of nurses and midwives to equip them to integrate leadership skills into their work and advance universal health coverage. Furthermore, She said the programme was designed to address critical gaps in leadership within the nursing and midwifery professions to cultivate a culture of innovation and excellence in service delivery.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Professor Oathokwa Nkomazana, highlighted the urgent need for sustained leadership development, noting that many senior leaders in the field were nearing retirement. She stressed the importance of establishing mentorship systems to ensure that future generations of nurses and midwives were well-prepared to take on leadership roles.

 "Leaders are made, not born," said Professor Nkomazana, adding that leadership programmes should be continuous instead of one-time events to ensure their lasting impact.

The training entailed a wide range of topics presented by experts including the role of WHO in the development of the nursing and midwifery workforce, global leadership policies in Africa and approaches to research and quality improvement. Participants engaged in knowledge exchange and skill-building activities designed to empower them to drive transformative changes in Botswana’s healthcare system.