25 Aug 2021

Half a million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine have been secured with funding support from De Beers Group, Debswana and DTC Botswana.

A media release from the three entities says government and the supplier have signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the procurement following the financial pledge made by the trio in support of the country’s vaccination campaign. 

“De Beers Group, Debswana and DTC Botswana’s financial contribution has funded 40 per cent of the cost of the vaccine. Due to the tightness in global supply for vaccine, the doses will be delivered in phases in accordance with the terms of the agreement between the government of Botswana and Moderna Switzerland GmbH,” it says.

The release quotes Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Edwin Dikoloti as saying the doses will enable the country to accelerate its national vaccination programme.

 It explains that the financial pledge in support of the vaccine rollout programme builds on the support already provided to help Botswana respond to the pandemic.

According to the release, the three entities have collectively provided more than P100 million of COVID-19 relief support to Botswana since the start of the pandemic.

“Alongside the P55 million pledge made in June, the three entities made a combined P46.6 million financial and in kind donation to government in 2020,” it says.

The donation funded a range of vital equipment including PCR machines, test kits, sanitisers, training of health care workers, PPE, isolation centres and the setting up of testing centres in Orapa, Jwaneng and Debswana Corporate Centre.

The release says the three companies have also provided support in kind highlighting  establishment of the Jwaneng Mine Hospital vaccination centre and the Debswana Corporate Centre vaccination point in Gaborone.

De Beers group chief executive officer Mr Bruce Cleaver is quoted in the statement as emphasising commitment to address urgent needs and step up to support nation’s long term recovery. Ends