Heavy rains in Botswana's capital city Gaborone have resulted in widespread and devastating floods in recent days, with roads submerged and residential neighborhoods flooded.
The death toll from the flooding in Botswana has risen to seven, the country's President Duma Boko announced on Saturday. He added that the total number of people evacuated has risen to 1749, up from 498 reported on Friday.
Amid the chaos, authorities have been trying to rally the nation.
"Where we are currently is, we have a national emergency. We have not yet reached national disaster which is the upside currently. All hands are on deck and this can only help us come out bigger, better, and stronger as the nation, and obviously more prepared," said Maipelo Mophuting, assistant minister for State Presidency, Botswana.
Education authorities have ordered the closure of schools, with the forecast for more heavy rain into next week.
Businesses have suffered extensive damage, and residents in low-lying areas have been particularly hard hit, with many forced to evacuate their homes.
"There was water all over, be it the garage, the lounge, the dining room, all over up to my bedroom. We couldn't do much, but just watch and wait for the water to go away. The water issue, the problem with my yard is that it seems to be at the lower side, such that the water that comes from up the street goes into my yard," said Balibi Pitse, a resident.
During the hard time, organizations like the Botswana-China Friendship Association have stepped forward to provide aid, donating food and essential supplies to those affected.
"We want to assure you that our contributions might be small but they come from a place of deep care and commitment. We stand with the government and people of Botswana and we will continue to contribute to the development of our country," said Miles Nan, executive chairman of the Botswana-China Friendship Association.
The Botswana government has warned that the country will continue to experience heavy rains into next week, raising concerns over further flooding and damage in already affected areas.
Heavy rains kill seven, cause widespread destruction in Gaborone
Heavy rains kill seven, cause widespread destruction in Gaborone
Heavy rains kill seven, cause widespread destruction in Gaborone
South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.
The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.
Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.
He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.
"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.
The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.
"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.
This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.
The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.
"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.
"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.
In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.
"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.
As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.
Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub
