12 Jan 2020

Health Policy Research and Development in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Mr Moses Keetile says Francistown Institute of Health Sciences award ceremony is testimony that there is talent in Botswana.

Speaking at the institute’s third award ceremony recently, Mr Keetile said since 2020 had been declared the International Year of Nurses and Midwives, nurses as the backbone of the healthcare system in the country should continue to exhibit positive attitudes, be ambitious and committed in their daily roles.

For his part, Francistown City Mayor, Mr Godisang Radisigo explained that as Botswana transits towards the knowledge based economy, it was important to appreciate that knowledge had increasingly become important in almost all spheres of the global economy.

He mentioned that he had great admiration for the emphasis the institute placed on academic excellence and positive engagement with the community.

On the substantive theme for the ceremony; Academic Excellence: A Driver Towards a Knowledge Based Economy, Mr Radisigo said such an excellent initiative should be applauded as it provided the ideal framework to stimulate and encourage the learning potential of the students.

“The ceremony also encourages our students to elicit positive behaviour on their part and to enable them to achieve excellence in education and the health care profession at large,” he added.

He further said that in a knowledge economy, information and knowledge could be shared and grown through application as expected from the events’ awardees.

The Mayor also said that government believed that the future of a state depended upon the level and quality of education dispensed to its youth.

“Empowerment of our young people through education is the new name of the game. 

If we successfully empower them, they will emerge as the mainstays of our country,” he said, adding that all involved must assume their responsibilities.

Mr Radisigo further noted that being the best achiever was a time of celebration and triumph as it marked the beginning of the next phase.

He also said it was a very profound moment for the best achievers, parents and teachers who have played their part in such results as the students have worked hard with focus, determination and discipline.

However, to those who were not receiving awards, Mr Radisigo said it was imperative that they understood that as long as their will to succeed got stronger, nothing could discourage them from succeeding in life.

Francistown IHS Principal, Ms Tiny Noke said the award ceremony gave the institution the courage and reason to continue working hard towards the achievement of excellence in the production of human resource for health.

She further extended her gratitude towards the Ministry of Health and Wellness for funding the noble initiative as its pursuance of excellence would yield return for public investments in ensuring a knowledge based economy.

“To Francistown IHS staff and students, I encourage you to continue the hard work wherever and whenever. 

Never grow weary to do well,” she said.

A representative of the recipients, Mr Segolame Moloi, who scooped seven prizes during the ceremony, applauded the staff of IHS for such exposure where their potentials were revealed to the nation.

He advised his fellow students that it was important to work smart than just working hard as working smart would always help one have direction for always aiming higher.

“There is so much potential in each one of us and I hope those that did not get awarded will be challenged to strive forward and perform better,” he said.

A total of 41 prizes constituted in the academic, sporting and special award categories were awarded. 

The awardees were drawn from the 2018/19 academic year cycle mainly first and second year academic performance in the General Nursing department. Ends