Botswana Red Cross Society (BRCS) Secretary General and CEO Dr. Kutlwano Mukokomani has praised the Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL) Project as a groundbreaking initiative that strengthened community health systems and improved vaccine uptake across the country.
Speaking at the project’s closure meeting, Dr. Mukokomani said the SLL initiative proved that community-led approaches are the cornerstone of successful public health interventions. “Our mission was not just to deliver Vaccination messages, but to build trust, understanding, and ownership within communities,” he said. “When people are engaged and empowered, they transform challenges into resilience.”
Implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health, ACHAP, and AMREF, the project focused on integrating life-course vaccines such as COVID-19, Td and Hepatitis B into the national immunization schedule. Over two phases, the Botswana Red Cross Society led the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) component, emphasizing localized outreach and digital data monitoring.
Dr. Mukokomani commended the dedication of Community volunteers and partners, adding that digital data collection systems proved vital for tracking misinformation and improving accountability. “Investing in such systems should now be considered a core part of health emergency preparedness,” he emphasized.
Both the Red Cross and its partners recommended the integration of COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization, institutionalization of community engagement as a core health function, and investment in real-time digital monitoring systems to strengthen preparedness for future outbreaks.
Dr. Mukokomani concluded by urging continued collaboration across all sectors to sustain progress made through the SLL project. “The COVID-19 pandemic tested our resolve, but Botswana has shown resilience, solidarity, and innovation,” he said. “The Saving Lives and Livelihoods project has not only improved vaccine uptake but reshaped how we engage with communities on health.”
The presentation of the project outcomes in the North West was delivered by Cinderella Gaebolaye, who detailed how the initiative funded by the Mastercard Foundation through Africa CDC helped Botswana transition from emergency response to sustainable health system strengthening.
According to Gaebolaye, the project’s second phase reached over 7,800 adults through door-to-door visits, 7,300 individuals through group outreach sessions, and more than 450,000 people through digital campaigns. These efforts were complemented by strong collaboration between community leaders, traditional healers, and faith-based organizations, which helped overcome vaccine hesitancy.
In the North West District, where Gaebolaye’s team coordinated field activities, SLL achieved notable success through extensive community mobilization including Kgotla meetings, Shebeen and workplace health talks, church visits, and school outreach. Health workers also received training on Hepatitis B vaccination and data management, while safari camps provided logistical support to reach mobile populations in remote Okavango areas
Despite significant achievements, Gaebolaye noted several challenges, including low risk perception among some health workers towards Hepatitis B Vaccine, difficult terrains, migration patterns, and limited transport logistics for outreach activities. However, these challenges were overcome through the coordination and facilitation of the Ministry of Health and the respective District Health Management Teams.
This was brought to you by Ministry of Health -Botswana, Botswana Red Cross Society,International Federation of the red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,AMREF,ACHAP with support from Africa CDC,Saving Lives and livelihood in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
