Minister of International Development and Human Rights Hilde Frafjord Johnson

"Medisinerutdanning i Norge", under helsesektoravtalen

Gaborone, Botswana, 10. februar 2000

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to be with you here today. Relations between Norway and Botswana have been very fruitful and long-lasting. Our development

cooperation goes back more than 25 years. And relations have been particularly close in the health sector.

I do not know how many Norwegian doctors, lab technicians, physiotherapists and others have served in the health care system in Botswana, but there must have

been more than one hundred altogether. Whatever health institution you visit in Norway, somebody more than likely will tell you about the time they spent in

Botswana. And they all have fond memories from this beautiful country of yours.

It is therefore very important for me to stress this: YES - we have closed our embassy here. And, YES - we are phasing out traditional development cooperation.

But, NO – we have no plans to quit our cooperation with you. Quite the contrary, we very much wish to maintain our good relations and continue our cooperation.

The training of Batswana physicians in Norway is an excellent example of the kind of cooperation that is expected to continue, after traditional development

cooperation has been phased out. I am told that Botswana covers the students’ travelling and living expenses and that the Norwegian universities cover their tuition

costs, while NORAD only contributes a small amount in order to cover the administration costs and the language course. I have also learned that this formula works

well.

I welcome the strong desire on the part of our partners here in Botswana to use their own resources for their own development – and to continue cooperation based

on their own interests and needs. And I am confident that the close ties created between our countries during our long-lasting development cooperation will continue

to grow, regardless of the downscaling of external funding. I would like to thank you all for putting so much time and effort into our cooperation – from which we,

too, learn a lot – make no mistake about that!

* * *

The health system in Botswana faces serious challenges, the greatest of which is the HIV/AIDS pandemic. But combating other diseases - such as other STDs,

malaria, respiratory infections and tuberculosis - will also demand unstinting efforts. So will public health problems like malnutrition, maternal mortality and

reproductive health.

A well-functioning primary health care system is needed to address these challenges successfully. Botswana is said to have one of the best, if not the best, health

care system in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the system is hampered by the lack of qualified personnel, physicians in particular. The long-term solution to this

challenge cannot be to rely on foreign doctors – no more so in Botswana than anywhere else. It is of vital importance that the country itself builds up a sustainable

core of qualified personnel.

I hope that the 50 doctors-to-be participating in this project will contribute substantially to this core. And I welcome the decision to establish a medical school here in

Gaborone. This should provide the optimal solution to the lack of skilled personnel. Given our long-standing cooperation in the health sector, I would not be

surprised if Norwegians were to be involved in the establishment of the medical school as well.

* * *

I know you have been waiting for a decision as to whether new Norwegian physicians will be sent to Botswana. This was supposed to be a secret for a few more

hours. Still, I would like to take this opportunity to let you know, right away: at my meeting with the Minister of Health, Mrs. Phumaphi, later today, I will inform her

that we have agreed to provide topping up salaries for three new SDMOs, or public health specialists, under the contract on medical education. You are more than

welcome to start preparations for the recruitment of these specialists right away.

I hope that these doctors will help to strengthen the decentralisation process and the public health work of the district health teams. I also very much hope that they

will be able to assist the Batswana students when they come home for their elective periods and internships.

Once again, let me thank you all for your valuable contribution to the continued cooperation between our countries. I wish you every success in your very important

work - creating a new generation of doctors in Botswana.

And, by the way, while you’re at it, don’t forget the old saying: the best doctors in the world are Dr. Nutrition, Dr. Rest and Dr. Joy!

Thank you very much.