**1. Introduction**

The Botswana health care system has made significant strides in providing health care services since independence in 1966. The impetus to this realisation was partly due to the health status of the people and the context under which health care delivery was premised. From the onset, Botswana needed to position itself better to offer promotive, preventive and curative care services since most people needed access. Thus, preventive and health-promotive services were imperative. Health promotion and preventive services were also conceptualised before the Alma Ata Declaration on Health for All by 2000 and beyond.

Although a universal concept, health promotion is shaped and influenced by its operative context. Its central tenets focus on individuals' development to take responsibility for their health. From the Botswana perspective, health is a primary responsibility of every individual and the health care provider is responsible for empowering each person to embrace this responsibility.

Many define health promotion differently, but its essence cuts across many healthcare systems. Health promotion is defined as enabling people to increase control over and improve their health [1]. This definition was crystallised at the first International

Conference on Health Promotion in Ottawa in 1986 and became known as the Ottawa Charter. The basic strategies for health promotion identified in the Ottawa Charter are advocacy to boost the factors which encourage health, allowing all people to achieve health equity and mediation through collaboration across all sectors [1]. Since then, the WHO Global Health Promotion Conferences have established and developed the global principles and action areas for health promotion.

According to WHO, the concept of health is particular because it covers the extent to which a group or individuals can fulfil their aspirations and needs on the other hand and evolves with or adapts to the environment on the other [1]. Further, health is seen as a resource for everyday life and not just a life goal. It is a positive concept emphasising social and individual resources and physical capabilities [1]. Thus, health promotion is not just a health issue but goes beyond healthy lifestyles to well-being.

The Ottawa Charter identifies the prerequisites of health promotion as peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable ecosystem, sustainable resources, social justice and equity. It further pinpoints the action areas as building public health policy, creating a supportive environment, strengthening the country's action, developing personal skills and re-orientating health care delivery services towards prevention of illness and promotion of health, bearing in mind the prevailing contextual conditions [1].
