Gaborone, Botswana - 26 July 2019: Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, The Executive Secretary of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), this morning, hosted Dr Martins Ovberedjo, the WHO Representative to Botswana (WR), who was bidding her farewell as he completes his tour-of-duty in Botswana. Dr Ovberedjo has served in Botswana since January 2016 and he is leaving on re-assignment to Eritrea.

Dr Tax thanked Dr Ovberedjo for spearheading and commitment to initiatives on SADC Member States’ Business Plan, Malaria Elimination and Cross Border Initiatives, among other support and partnership initiatives which have visible and tangible results. Dr Tax appreciated Dr Ovberedjo’s continued commitment on agreed initiatives and their further sustainance. Dr Tax highlighted the need for SADC and WHO to continue working together to support SADC member states’ health endeavours.

Dr Ovberedjo, on his part, expressed appreciation to Dr Tax and the SADC technical team for their support and cooperation which assisted in deepening the SADC/WHO partnership. He acknowledged that the achievements recorded were a product of good collaboration. He also promised that he will continue to support SADC even when he will be based outside the region.

Dr Ovberedjo informed the SADC team that the incoming WR, Dr Josephine Namboze, has been briefed on the strategic relevance of the SADC/WHO partnership and is expected to pay an official visit to SADC upon her resumption of duty.