BHP Open Day: Bridging Research and Community
The Botswana Harvard Health Partnership (BHP) held an Open Day on 10th September 2024 at the Gaborone Main Mall, inviting the public to engage with their research initiatives under the theme, “Harnessing Strong Collaborations for Innovative Health Research.” The event which was part of the Principal Investigator’s Week (PI Week), was aimed at showcasing BHP’s groundbreaking research and fostering public understanding of its impact on global health.
BHP’s PI Week, which was launched on 9th September 2024 with a press briefing at the BHP Conference Room, celebrates the research contributions of principal investigators, research fellows, trainees, and staff across various projects. The Open Day provided an opportunity for BHP to demonstrate how fundamental research fuels innovation and translates into real-world solutions. BHP staff manned and engaged the public at various stalls exhibiting research from several studies and departments, including clinical, laboratory and regulatory office.
In his opening remarks, BHP Chief of Operations, Cornelius Gaetsaloe, delivered an eloquent speech, urging the public to interact directly with the BHP team. “Talk to them, engage them, ask them, probe them, celebrate them,” he encouraged. “In this way, you will appreciate their portfolio of research work, their study aims, their resources, and their activities within the communities, facilities, and districts they serve.”
Gaetsaloe further emphasized the importance of collaboration, noting the unseen yet essential contributions of BHP’s partners. “As you talk to them, if you look carefully, you will see invisible hands and faces among them. We are part of a very powerful and highly effective ecosystem.”
He concluded by thanking attendees for taking time out of their busy schedules to join the event, expressing excitement for meaningful discussions at the exhibition stalls.
The Open Day was graced by high-profile figures, including Acting Director of Health Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Oratile Mfokeng-Selei, who lauded BHP for its scientific contributions both locally and globally. “As a country with a vision of a knowledge-driven economy, BHP is steps ahead,” Dr. Mfokeng-Selei remarked, praising BHP’s leadership in health research.
She added that as Botswana re-engineers its health system towards primary healthcare, BHP’s research could play a crucial role in creating a system that meets the demands of a high-income nation. “There are great opportunities for research and learning in building a robust health system, and BHP is poised to be a significant contributor,” she said.
Deputy Permanent Secretary of Knowledge in the Ministry of Communications, Knowledge, and Technology (MCKT), Ms. Lesego Thamae, also attended the event. She acknowledged the impact of BHP’s work and disclosed that her ministry has established a Research Fund to support initiatives like those conducted by BHP.
“BHP is doing outstanding work in advancing scientific research, and we, as a ministry, are committed to ensuring that such research continues to thrive through our support and funding initiatives,” Thamae said.
The Open Day allowed the public to explore BHP’s transformative research and reinforced its role as a leading institution in global health research, setting the stage for further innovation and collaboration in addressing Botswana’s public health challenges.
