BC and HIASWANA Sign MoU to Advance Health Informatics Digital Health in Botswana
The future of healthcare is increasingly connected to how effectively health information is collected, managed, shared and used. Recognising the growing importance of this field, we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Health Informatics Association of Botswana (HIASWANA) to advance health informatics education, research and digital health innovation in Botswana.
The partnership creates a framework for collaboration between academia and the health informatics profession, with a shared focus on developing the skills and knowledge needed to support Botswana’s evolving digital health landscape.
Through the MoU, we will work with HIASWANA on a range of initiatives, including curriculum development, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes, short learning programmes, workshops, conferences and research projects.
The collaboration will also create opportunities for stakeholder engagement and national capacity-building in health informatics, strengthening connections between education, professional practice and the healthcare sector at large.
Health informatics sits at an increasingly important intersection between healthcare, information and technology. From the way patient information is managed to how health systems communicate and how data supports decision-making, effective use of information can influence the quality, efficiency and continuity of healthcare services.
The partnership will therefore explore innovation in areas including health information systems, digital health technologies, interoperability, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data governance.
For our students and healthcare professionals, this creates opportunities to engage with emerging technologies and develop skills that are increasingly relevant to the modern healthcare environment. It also provides a platform for learning to respond to developments taking place within the sector rather than existing separately from them.
Research will form another important part of the collaboration. By bringing together academic expertise and professional experience, we can create opportunities to investigate challenges within Botswana’s health information and digital health environment and contribute evidence that can inform practice.
The partnership also supports our commitment to quality healthcare education and training by recognising that preparing healthcare professionals for the future requires an understanding of how technology and information are transforming the way healthcare is delivered.
For HIASWANA, the collaboration provides an opportunity to strengthen the professional development and capacity of health informatics practitioners while contributing to the broader conversation around digital health in Botswana.
Ultimately, the MoU creates a platform for two organisations with complementary strengths to work towards a common goal: developing people, knowledge and innovation that can support stronger health information systems and contribute to improved healthcare delivery.
As Botswana continues its efforts to strengthen digital health, partnerships that connect education, professional practice, research and technology will be increasingly important.
For us, this is part of building a healthcare education environment that looks ahead - preparing professionals not only for the healthcare systems of today, but for the increasingly digital systems that will help shape tomorrow.