> With 100 000 sponsorship boost
The annual Gaborone International Health Expo is returning this year with a boost of P 100 000 windfall sponsorship from Kalafhi Medical Centre, following the freezing of the expo last year.
The international health expo has been conceptualized in back 2013 with the aim of inspiring wellness across Botswana; this year’s showpiece is slated for 21st and 22nd of November 2019.
Founder and Managing Director of Kalafhi Medical Centre, Dr Matlhogonolo Mongwa, has said her company came off of to the party to sponsor the expo so as to unlock growth opportunities.
Mongwa indicated that the expo aims at bringing the health and wellness industry together to share ideas in embracing the local health sector for the looming Fourth Industrial Revolution.
She also said the theme of this year’s expo that is ‘Embracing the 4th Industrial Revolution to advance healthcare in Botswana’ challenges Botswana to shift its approach towards health.
In addition, she said the benefits that come along with the expo is to avail the medical products and services for the consumers, free health screenings and offering networking for professions.
Free health screenings, at the expo is envisioned to assist the public in knowing their health status for rampant prevalent diseases such as cancer, hypertension including sugar diabetes.
Dr William Baratedi, a lecturer at University of Botswana (UB) applauded the organisers of the health expo in ensuring that the health sector is set ready for fourth industrial revolution (4IR).
He regretted that the country has been ravaged by Non-Communicable diseases as a result of the lifestyle choices adding that World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics are very worrying.
‘‘Statistics show that about 1.3 million people are leaving with hypertension across the world. The majority of these numbers are from the low and middle income developing nations that Botswana forms part of. About 425 million are affected by diabetes and this needs us as the country to introspect vigorously by adopting new technologies in health,’’ said Dr Baratedi.
For his part, the Expo coordinator from Amble Promotions, Gao Lemmenyane said he remains confident that the expo will grow from strength to strength, to articulate arising health issues.
He also said other branches of economy such as financial sector has taken a big leading role in espousal of the fourth industrial revolution regretting that the local health sector waits behind.