The stage is set for the first instalment of the Botswana International Nursing Conference (BINC) following the unveiling of this year’s major sponsors Barclays Bank Botswana, and Boitekanelo College. Three years after its formation, and in partnership with Aviwe HealthCare Resource and Training Institute, and the Ministry of Health (MoH); Botswana Nurses Union (BONU) will host the inaugural BINC from November 4-6th, 2015 at Fairgrounds Holdings.
Speaking at the unveiling BONU’s Kelebogile Molatlhegi said the conference will be a unique international multi-disciplinary platform for all health care professionals in the region. She highlighted the fact that the nursing profession constitutes the majority in the health sector. “Our manpower has been dwindling over time, leading to customers having mixed feelings about the quality of service they receive from health practitioners,” Molatlhegi said, adding “Health practitioners are also challenged to be proactive and this can only be validated through developing a habit of relying on research findings.” She said as such nurses from all over the global village have been called upon to influence each other in the area of research.
“This is what BINC 2015 aims to do, and this is why we implore you to embrace this conference and support it to the utmost of your abilities. We need your patronage and partnership to ensure that the first ever Botswana International Nursing Conference is a resounding success.” Ruth Mokgethi, secretary general for BONU said the idea of an international nursing conference was especially attractive to them because it was in line with their mandate of facilitating training and research in the nursing and health sector.
“We therefore embraced the idea wholeheartedly and pitched it to our parents, the government of Botswana, through the Ministry of Health. They also embraced the idea and together we have worked tirelessly, spent sleepless nights, begged and toiled until we came to this momentous day, on which we can proudly announce that the Botswana International Nursing conference is here.”
She said BONU, Aviwe and the government share the same objectives of harnessing professional development in the health sector. “That is why they have joined forces to deliver a state of the art conference that will attract hundreds of nursing professionals, stakeholders and industry captains from all over Africa,” Mogethi said. “Delegates at the conference will engage through an energising and informative program of speakers and presenters with the aim of advancing and improving coverage and quality of nursing services.” She said they are expecting at least 200 delegates from Botswana alone as well as those from outside the country. Siwulane Sebetso, Principal Health Care Officer (MoH), said nurses and other health care workers are the backbone of Botswana’s health system. “I will be the first to admit that nurses have an immense responsibility and are at times forced to work under strenuous conditions. However, I must assure health workers that government is doing all it can to ensure that they are adequately capacitated and resourced to deal with the country’s challenging health needs.”
Boitekanelo’s Mosidi Mokotedi said the college has sponsored the conference to the tune of over P250 000 to help make the event a success. “They are the ones that impart the knowledge to our graduates,” she said. Melvon Guga, Aviwe Managing Director said the success of BINC will always be centred on nursing and health care professionals. “As Aviwe, we believe government’s commitment to providing quality health care services that are affordable and accessible is in sync with our mandate.” He said there is need for more partnerships between government and private sector to ensure Botswana realises its goal of becoming a healthy, prosperous, productive and innovative nation. The theme of the conference is ‘Efficient and Effective Nursing Through Evidenced-informed Practice: A Key to Improved Customer Care’.
