News and Events

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has launched the consultative process of the alcohol levy review. The ceremony was held recently was attended by the Ministry management, stakeholders and media houses. Giving her welcome remarks the Permanent Secretary of Health and Wellness Ms. Ruth Maphorisa recognized the critical roles the organizations represent in reducing alcohol related harm in Botswana. She highlighted that alcohol related harm concerns all and the Ministry together with the public need to improvise on the most effective interventions and strategies that will improve the overall health and livelihood of the people of Botswana.

Launching the consultations officially, the Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Alfred Madigele said this is an assignment that has been sanctioned by Cabinet following calls by stakeholders to review the current alcohol campaign to reduce alcohol related harm.

Dr. Madigele described alcohol as a drug and the harmful use of alcohol as one of the most significant risks to health globally and it cost Government huge amount of money. And in response to this the Government of Botswana made a deliberate effort to reduce alcohol related harm by coming up with interventions to reduce harmful alcohol consumption which include the introduction and increase of the alcohol levy, increasing fines for road users and others.

In 2017, the Ministry of Health and Wellness conducted a desktop review of the Botswana National Alcohol Policy as one of the interventions to reduce alcohol related harm. The Ministry collaborated with World Organization (WHO) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The review identified some gaps in mainstreaming HIV/AIDS, Gender Based Violence and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) in the Alcohol Policy. The Ministry will revise the National Alcohol Policy in order to incorporate most areas affected by alcohol. Read more...