Botswana, a country heavily reliant on its diamond industry, has declared a public health emergency as its hospitals have run out of essential medicines. President Duma Boko announced an emergency fund of over $18 million to restock supplies, with the military overseeing distribution. The health crisis follows a warning from the Health Ministry about a severely strained system, with over $75 million owed to private healthcare providers. Shortages have affected medicines for hypertension, cancer, diabetes, and other critical conditions, and elective surgeries have also been postponed. The crisis is linked to a downturn in the international diamond market, which has weakened the country's main source of foreign earnings. Steep cuts in US aid under President Donald Trump have further exacerbated the crisis.