COVID-19: UAE sends medical aid to Botswana

Last updated on February 27th, 2023 at 11:36 am

Like several countries across the globe, the government of Botswana has had to request a six-month state of emergency, and extend lockdown to help contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. After being in lockdown for three weeks, which required non-essential workers and citizens to stay home, President Mokgweetsi Masisi found it necessary to further extend the rules to six months due to the rising number of confirmed cases in the region. The country is now taking urgent steps needed to protect the public from the virus, but what that means for hundreds of Zimbabwean nationals is deportation.

To support Botswana in tackling COVID-19, the UAE has deployed five metric tonnes of medical aid—a global effort that will help approximately 5,000 healthcare workers in the country. Mahash Saeed Al Hameli, UAE Ambassador to South Africa, shared his thoughts on how the UAE aims to strengthen the medical capabilities of several friendly countries such as Botswana. He added, “Aid to Botswana will enable the country’s healthcare workers to take the necessary precautions as they work to protect the public from COVID-19.”

Since its outbreak in December in Wuhan, the virus has spread to more than 180 countries. The COVID-19 threat in Botswana is rapidly increasing as its neighboring countries are witnessing more confirmed cases and deaths. Governments around the world are asking that all citizens and residents respect social distancing rules during this global crisis.

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