She said the machine, which is yet to be operational, would enable Indian doctors to consult and diagnose patients in Botswana without having to travel.
She said a patient would be connected to the machine and a doctor in India would diagnose the patient and recommend prescriptions, noting that the machine is already used in Ethiopia.
Mrs Kgosietsile said an agreement between the two countries stipulates that after five years, Botswana would provide technical support to operate and maintain the machine.
She said the e-network agreement between the two countries would also be extended to other fields such as education, adding that Indian experts would be able to give a lecture while in India.
The high commissioner said Botswana stood to save a lot of money from travelling costs because of the machine.
She said another agreement is the Very Very Important Personalities e-network.
“This is designed for the presidents of the two countries, as they will be able to communicate without having to travel to each other’s countries,” said Mrs Kgosietsile, adding that it was similar to video conferencing.
On other issues, Mrs Kgosietsile said India has given Botswana P4 million for development projects. She added that a Botswana Housing Corporation delegation was in India to learn how to build affordable houses.
On arts and culture, Mrs Kgosietsile said India provided some slots for Batswana to study arts. She revealed that there were 50 Batswana students in India.
She said India was also keen to import more pilots from Botswana, noting that there were three Batswana pilots working in the Asian country.
Mrs Kgosietsile said Botswana opened another office in Mumbai for the high commission to extend its services to other parts of India. One of the goals was to improve people to people ties, noting that cultural exchanges were one way of improving them.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Mothusi Soloko
Quelle/Source: Dailynews, 16.10.2008
