Botswana–Rutgers Partnership for Health (BRPH)
Established in 2018, the Botswana-Rutgers Partnership for Health (BRPH) is a collaborative research and training initiative between Botswana’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, University of Botswana and the Rutgers Global Health Institute. The partnership aims to help advance Botswana’s national program in cancer care and prevention; create joint research and training programs to improve cancer care and prevention; and create local, subspecialty medical and health professions training programs.
Mandated by the Ministry of Health, we support cancer care and prevention in Botswana: finding the gaps, training health workers, guiding patients, and building partnerships.
Impact to Date
Our oncology work in Botswana
Cancer Care and Prevention Needs Assessment
- Sept 2020 – Apr 2021 | Multi-site, cross-sectional study
- Assessment of cancer services – Prevention, Screening, Diagnosis Treatment Referral pathways Palliative care
- Whose perspectives we heard
- Health care providers, hospital leadership, cancer patients and survivors, caregivers, community members, and NGOs.
- 11 critical health system gaps identified, including late diagnosis, pathology delays, workforce shortages and weak referral systems.
- Key Research Outputs – Comprehensive Needs Assessment Report – “A Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of Cancer Services and Needs at the Four Public Oncology Centers within the Botswana Health System”
- Peer-Reviewed Publication – “Expanding Geographic Access to Cancer Care in Botswana: Current Status and Future Prospects” Swart et al. | JCO Global Oncology | 2024
We train the health workers on the front line
- Cancer Kitso: foundational oncology training for doctors, nurses and pharmacists. 52 trained at the 4 public oncology centers.
- Oncologic emergencies: training for A&E and emergency ward staff, piloted at Princess Marina Hospital.
- Needle biopsy: 85 medical officers trained across 36 facilities, with donated needles and urgent pathology through Diagnofirm.
- Cancer Kitso graduates receive a Rutgers University digital badge.
We guide patients through breast cancer care pathway
- 2022 pilot – 15 nurses trained as navigators across 6 hospitals referring to the Princess Marina Hospital breast clinic. 75 patients joined; turn-around time fell to under 60 days from 6–9 months.
- Today, nationwide 90 nurses trained as patient navigators in 36 facilities.
Working Together to Strengthen Cancer Care and Prevention
- GOVERNMENT & HEALTH SYSTEMS
- Ministries of Health
- TECHNICAL & GLOBAL ONCOLOGY PARTNERS
- Union for International Cancer Control
- International Cancer Foundation
- City Cancer Challenge
- INDUSTRY PARTNERS
- Roche
- Merck / MSD
- Novartis
- BMS
Our History in Botswana
From a single fellowship to a nationwide navigation model — how the partnership grew, year by year.
BRPH founded · Global Oncology Fellowships launched
Rutgers Global Health Institute and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey partner with Princess Marina Hospital, the University of Botswana, and the Ministry of Health to launch a year-long fellowship pairing visiting oncologists with local mentorship and joint research.
SPARC Award received · “Improving Cancer Care and Prevention” Workshop held
BRPH, administratively supported by the Botswana-Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, is awarded a SPARC grant for a multifaceted project to improve timely access to care for women with advanced-stage breast cancer, while a national stakeholder workshop sets the policy agenda for the years ahead.
- October — BRPH receives a SPARC Award as part of the Round 3 cohort of 11 grantees for “Improving timely access to care for women with advanced stage breast cancer in Botswana.”
- A two-day “Improving Cancer Care and Prevention in Botswana” workshop brings together a multi-sector stakeholder group, producing six national recommendations.
- Consults on the future of Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital at the invitation of the Ministry of Health and the President’s Office.
Cancer Care Needs Assessment launched · Project ECHO & COVID-19 webinars begin
A national needs assessment begins mapping the cancer care system for the first time, while the pandemic drives rapid investment in webinars and health IT.
- Cancer Care and Prevention Needs Assessment launched (2020–2021) across all four public oncology centers — found only one practicing oncologist nationwide.
- Treatment of Oncologic Emergencies course piloted through Project ECHO amongst healthcare providers at the Princess Marina Hospital in Botswana, the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School — eight sessions on metabolic, neurologic, and septic emergencies.
- Health Information Technology Assessment of the Public Cancer Treatment Centers funded, equipping four hospitals (PMH Gaborone, Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital Francistown, Sekgoma Memorial Hospital Serowe, Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital Maun) with smart screens, laptops, connectivity, and videoconferencing.
- National COVID-19 educational webinar series for healthcare providers begins — 44 sessions, drawing 20 to 200+ clinicians weekly.
Patient Navigation Program launched · Biopsy Workshops begin
A UICC-funded study on advanced breast cancer sets up two flagship programs: hands-on biopsy training and the region’s first patient navigation model.
- Advanced Breast Cancer Access project (UICC-funded): focus groups with patients and caregivers, plus biopsy training at five Gaborone-region hospitals.
- Fine & Core Needle Biopsy Workshops begin (2021–2022) — 42 doctors trained.
- Greater Gaborone Patient Navigation Program begins (2021–2022) — 20 navigators trained (15 nurse, 5 lay); 75 patients navigated; delay cut from 69–91 to 14 days.
- Pathology Working Group formed (2021–2024) with Rutgers Cancer Institute and Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center — resident mentorship, later expanded into AI-assisted digital pathology reviews.
Cancer Kitso Training Program launched
A synchronous hybrid course, five sessions over two months plus a final exam — modeled on Botswana’s own Kitso AIDS program — rolls out at all four public oncology centers with support from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, offering digital certification to every graduate.
Cancer Kitso Evaluation conducted
BRPH conducted a multi-site, cross-sectional study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Cancer Kitso Clinical Management, Level I training program using the New World Kirkpatrick Framework. Evaluation gathered feedback from trained providers, cancer care experts involved in course development, public oncology center supervisors, and two MOH policy officers..
Needs Assessment findings published · Global Oncology Fellowship concludes first run
Findings from the national needs assessment are published in JCO Global Oncology, the Cancer Kitso follow-up evaluation is completed, and the Global Oncology Fellowship completes its initial run of eight trained fellows.
Patient Navigation Upscale Project launched · Bontleng Breast Clinic opens
The Patient Navigation Upscale Project takes the Gaborone model nationwide, following the same phased playbook that powered Botswana’s antiretroviral rollout.
- Project targets all 10 health districts across the country’s four oncology catchment areas.
- May — buy-in visits to Sekgoma Memorial and Nyangabwe Referral Hospitals.
- June–July — 29 navigators trained from the Gaborone District Health Management Team.
- July — two Gaborone DHMT medical officers trained in biopsy procedures.
- Bontleng Clinic breast clinic opens as a referral hub for 16 partner clinics — 15 patients screened and 8 cases identified in its first month.
- November — sensitization visits to seven northern hospitals in the Nyangabwe referral network ahead of rollout.
National rollout begins · Seven northern hospitals onboarded
Phased rollout begins at the seven northern hospitals, coordinated by a dedicated Patient Navigation Coordinator based at Nyangabwe Referral Hospital.