The BUP: Education

     Medical Training in Botswana

Background

In 2001, with no medical school and a shortage of doctors, Botswana took to the international stage and called for help in battling an HIV/AIDS epidemic that had struck nearly 40% of it's population.

In an address to the UN General Assembly, then President Festus Mogae said,

       “We are threatened with extinction. People are dying in chillingly high numbers. It is a crisis of the first magnitude.”

   

   In response, the Government of Botswana, the University of Botswana and the University of Pennsylvania formed the Botswana-UPenn Partnership to build healthcare capacity in Botswana.

                                            

Since 2001, The BUP has trained over 4,000 Batswana healthcare workers in clinical care at Princess Marina Hospital, district hospitals, local clinics, and the University of Botswana.

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Initiatives

The BUP takes a broad interdisciplinary approach to building capacity in Botswana. Our educational initiatives are:

- To train health care personnel throughout Botswana in prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and its complications

- To develop outstanding post-graduate training programs at the University of Botswana with an emphasis on Internal Medicine and its subspecialties

- To offer experience in global health to Penn trainees

- To develop joint research programs that address issues relevant to the health and welfare of the citizens of Botswana.