Of the 16 countries in which SCMS, the Supply Chain Management System, currently operates, Botswana stands out for what has been achieved since its SCMS office opened in April 2007. Crown Agents USA is the managing partner for SCMS Botswana office, with lead resident advisor, Deo Kimera, and his deputy, Stanley Mapiki.
In Botswana, the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus in the population has been explosive with an estimated of prevalence of 38.5% among mothers attending prenatal clinics. However, the government has been very responsive and in 2002, Botswana was one of the first countries in Africa to establish a national HIV/AIDS treatment program. According to Ministry of Health (MOH) reports, by September 2007, Botswana had already enabled over 90,000 patients to receive antiretroviral medicines (ARVs). This increase in number of people poses supply chain management challenges that call for putting in place efficient systems that promote sustainable availability of ARVs and other related commodities.
Botswana's Ministry of Health has set as its vision to lead in providing an efficient and effective health service consistent with global standards. Accordingly, the SCMS office performs three core areas of support towards these ends: promoting information sharing, capacity building, and strengthening warehousing, procurement and distribution systems.
Achievements to date include:
- Introducing standard tools for quantification and supply planning, and training MOH staff in use of such tools to promote proper planning for required ARVs
- Strengthening ARV (and other commodities) registration systems including installation of an updated version of WHO recommended software for drug registration (SIAMED) and training of MOH - Drug Registration staff in use of such software
- Establishing a national system for quantification and pipeline monitoring for laboratory commodities including training MOH staff in laboratory commodity logistics
- Designing a Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission commodity Supply Chain Management system through a participatory approach that promoted system ownership
- Introduction of a Quality Management System model to address challenges experienced by Central Medical Stores in promoting sustainable availability of commodities
- Mobilizing other US government-funded partners to embrace an integrated approach to Central Medical Store & National Health Laboratory process improvements undertaken by SCMS
Botswana's relatively high GDP and level of infrastructure lends itself to the potential to become a center of excellence where other countries come to learn. In the coming years, one of SCMS Botswana's focuses will be networking with other field offices.