Botswana has declared a public health emergency as it faces a shortage of
essential medicines and medical equipment.
President Duma Boko made the announcement in a televised address on
Monday, setting out a multi million-dollar plan to rectify the supply chain
involving military oversight.
According to him, managing the shortages would be highly price sensitive due
to the country limited coffers.
The economy of Botswana, which has a population of 2.5 million, has been
hit by a downturn in the international diamond market, as it is one of the
world's leading diamond producers.
This strain, further fueled by US aid cuts, has seen high levels of
unemployment and poverty, according to media reports.
