27 May 2025
Dr Stephen Modise’s visit opens opportunities to deepen partnerships and exchange ideas on advancing health equity between LSHTM and Botswana.
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) welcomed Dr Stephen Modise, Botswana’s Minister of Health, along with African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) Ambassador Professor Sheila Tlou and LSHTM alumna Dr Oratile Mfokeng-Selei, Deputy Permanent Secretary at Botswana’s Ministry of Health, for a high-level visit focused on collaboration in global health and infectious disease control.
Hosted by the LSHTM Malaria Centre, the meeting centred on discussions around the challenges and opportunities for malaria and infectious disease elimination in the context of shifting global funding priorities. As countries like Botswana continue to make significant strides in reducing the burden of malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, and other diseases, sustained partnerships and evidence-driven action remain crucial.
Dr Modise, appointed in November 2024, brings both clinical and academic experience to his role, with a background in medicine and medical education.
His leadership reflects a new generation of health policymakers focused on innovation, equity, and system strengthening.
Professor Liam Smeeth, Director of LSHTM, expressed a strong commitment to building capacity through education and equitable access.
He said:
“We would greatly welcome more students from Botswana, and we know there are many potential students with the ambition and the academic potential to succeed in their studies. Funding is a limiting factor, and one of the worst consequences of the current cuts in funding for health and development will be further limiting opportunities for the next generation.
We will continue to do all we can to secure funds to allow more students from low-resource backgrounds to come and study with us.”
On the potential for long-term collaboration, Professor Smeeth added:
“Our focus is on working in partnership, bringing together the expertise and specialist skills of LSHTM with the experience and unique knowledge that come from within a country such as Botswana. A successful partnership is one where the partners achieve more working together than they would separately, and is a partnership built on trust and mutual respect.
LSHTM and the government of Botswana are allies, united in efforts to improve health equity for all. Face-to-face meetings really help with the personal relationships that are so key to working together.”
Associate Professor Michael Delves, Co-director of the LSHTM Malaria Centre, also highlighted the importance of direct government engagement in the fight against malaria.
He said:
“Through direct dialogue with governments in malaria-endemic countries, we can harness the expertise of LSHTM to communicate and develop tailor-made, evidence-based interventions to aid our common goal of malaria elimination and eradication.
“The Malaria Centre at LSHTM strives to support these efforts while advocating for strengthened global funding to maintain the live-saving progress countries including Botswana have made in reducing burden of malaria, HIV, TB and more.”
Source: https://rb.gy/dt3t5o
