Gaborone, Botswana

When writing this I've spent almost a week in Botswana. "Why would anyone want to go there" one could ask... Well, as part of my masters degree at the University of Oslo I am going to be part of a project called HISP (Health Information Systems Program). It is a combined research and development project that aims to improve the quality of health information in developing countries by using a specific software. In many countries you find that information about health care (say how many children under 5 years has been diagnosed with malaria or how many people show signs of malnutrition in a certain area) are being reported several times to different projects/programs and authorities. To make a long story very short, this is what the project aims to improve. To keep all data regarding health services in one place makes it easier to access and the data are more likely to be correct and updated. The idea is that this will serve as a better basis for making good and informed decisions in the health sector.

Botswana is a quite large country (bigger than France) but with a population of only 1,8 million. It largely consisting of semi-desert and savannah. Major industries are cattle and diamonds and with excellent nature- and game reserves and they also attract a fair share of tourist. Botswana is relatively rich and politically stable country, but is severely hit by the HIV/AIDS-pandemic. It is estimated that over 30% of the population is HIV positive.

We, being myself, my supervisor Johan (to the right) and the local project members are based in the IT department at the Ministry of Health in Gaborone. Gaborone is the capitol, but not much of a big city. My guide book states that about 230000 people live here. It's got the atmosphere of a being a small town that has grown large very quickly. To quote my guide book again: "Due to it's phenomenal growth from an obscure village in the early 1960's to home to more than 230000 people in just 40 years, Gaborone has neither a long history or an established African character". The city is pretty flat, dry and there is not much to do.

Even though the city itself is not the most exiting, the people I have met here are fantastic. Most people are very friendly, inviting us to go with them, have supper etc. Johan has even been offered Batswana wives and cattle in a small village close to Gabs:) We have stayed at the University of Botswana in graduate student housing looking pretty much like a "studentby" in Oslo. There are five exchange students here (compared to about 4000 at UCT where I study!) and we've spent some time with them as well as local students. The picture to the right shows Lovely Daniel(yes that is his name), the local HISP worker and me having lunch outside the office building.

This week made me get a better grip on what the project is about. I've done work related to the software, attended a couple of meetings and visited a district office and a clinic that are part of a pilot project. I'll be back in Botswana in September and stay 2-3 months to conduct my field work.