Refeletswe Lebelonyane is a public health professional and primary care physician who has worked on health initiatives at the community, district, and national levels in Botswana. As part of the Botswana-Rutgers Partnership for Health, she is involved with cancer care and prevention initiatives. Her role includes serving as a co-principal investigator for the national cancer needs assessment and a breast cancer research study. 

Prior to her work with Rutgers, Lebelonyane directed study interventions for the Botswana Combination Prevention Project, coordinating the implementation of a combination HIV prevention program in 30 communities across Botswana.  

She also held positions within the Government of Botswana. While serving as director of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support for the Ministry of Health and Wellness, she developed new antiretroviral guidelines aligned with WHO recommendations and implemented programs related to sexual and reproductive health, HIV, and tuberculosis. She also was the director of primary health care in the Ministry of Local Government and helped establish the country’s Department of Primary Health Care. 

Lebelonyane received a medical degree and postgraduate diploma in internal medicine and surgery from St. Petersburg State Medical Academy in Russia. She also received a master of public health degree from the Medical University of South Africa.

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• Botswana Cancer Initiative Leader Discusses Parallels with AIDS and Progress on Oncology Workforce Training — Refeletswe Lebelonyane is a physician, public health professional, and program manager for the Botswana-Rutgers Partnership for Health. In this Q&A, she provides updates on cancer care and prevention efforts in Botswana and reflects on her past experiences confronting HIV/AIDS in the African country.