A long-standing commitment to public-private partnerships offer an example to countries about the possibilities of treating deadly diseases.

The Republic of Botswana has been in the news recently for being the first nation in the world to detect the omicron variant of COVID-19 – a testament to the rigor of the country’s virus sequencing efforts.

The University of Botswana graduated its first Ph.D. scientist from the Collaborative African Genomics Network (CAfGEN) on Monday, Nov. 1, in Gaborone, Botswana. This achievement speaks directly to the recently renewed agreement between Baylor College of Medicine and University of Botswana and the institutions’ mutual desire to build scientist-leader capacity.

Texas Children’s affirmed its Global Health partnership with the Republic of Botswana and praised our mutual commitment to children and families during a recent visit from President Mokgweetsi Masisi and a delegation of Botswanan leaders.

Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Botswana renewed their longstanding partnership last week during a visit from the president of the Republic of Botswana to Houston and the College.

Even if children are largely spared from COVID-19 direct effects, the pandemic will still cause long-lasting indirect impacts on children globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Building on a 20-year legacy of improving health systems for children, families and communities in limited-resource settings across the globe, Texas Children's Hospital and the Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) Network are working hard to prepare for and respond to COVID-19 in the 10 countries where we work.

“Children with cancer in Africa don’t have the benefit of a central line,” Hockenberry said. “All chemotherapy is done through a peripheral vein, creating challenges for both our patients and our providers.”

The use of the RediStik PIV Trainer has greatly reduced these challenges, lessening both the number of PIV attempts and IV extravasation incidents. Hockenberry introduced the innovation to her clinics in Botswana, Malawi and Uganda more than a year ago holding regular hands-on training workshops, many of which are still being held today.

BIPAI and its network of Centers of Excellence that have saved a generation of children and young mothers from the ill effects of and possibly death from HIV/AIDS.

Texas Children’s and Baylor College of Medicine are saving the lives of children and women across the globe through a network of physicians, fellows and residents that provide clinical support, training and academic leadership to underserved communities in 18 nations.