New Delhi- India has dispatched 10 tonnes of anti-retroviral medicines to Botswana to support the African nation’s public health system in treating HIV/AIDS, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday, underlining New Delhi’s growing health cooperation with countries of the Global South.
“Dispatched 10 tonnes of Anti-Retroviral medicines to Botswana today to support their public health system for HIV/AIDS treatment. An affirmation of our commitment to strengthening health cooperation with our Global South partners,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.
The shipment adds a significant health component to the traditionally close and friendly India-Botswana relationship, which has gained fresh momentum in recent years through cooperation in multiple sectors.
According to the High Commission of India in Gaborone, bilateral ties between the two countries have been marked by growing mutual trust, with cooperation expanding beyond traditional areas.
The strengthening relationship was highlighted during President Droupadi Murmu’s State Visit to Botswana in November, the first-ever visit by an Indian President to the country.
During the visit, India and Botswana also opened a new chapter in wildlife conservation cooperation with Botswana’s symbolic donation of eight cheetahs to India under Project Cheetah.
The cheetahs, originating from Botswana’s Ghanzi region, were released into a quarantine facility at the Mokolodi Nature Reserve by experts from both countries. President Murmu and Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko witnessed the event.
The President’s Secretariat described the donation as a significant step towards expanding India-Botswana cooperation in wildlife conservation.
Welcoming President Murmu, President Boko described India as the “Mother of Democracy” and praised its longstanding support for Botswana’s development. He also highlighted India’s role in areas such as education, gender equality and the empowerment of marginalised communities.
Boko noted that Murmu’s visit was the first State Visit by a foreign leader hosted by Botswana since he assumed office, reflecting the importance his government attaches to ties with India.
The two sides have identified several areas for expanding bilateral cooperation, including trade and investment, agriculture, renewable energy, health, education, skill development, defence and digital technology.
The latest shipment of anti-retroviral medicines is therefore part of a broader effort to deepen India’s development and health partnership with Botswana and strengthen its engagement with countries across the Global South.
–IANS