Producing non-communicable diseases(NCD's) as health 'problems' in Botswana: A critical analysis of the NCD strategy (2018–2023).

This article critically examines how non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are represented as policy problems in Botswana, focusing on the Botswana Multi-Sectoral Strategy for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (2018–2023). Using Carol Bacchi’s "What’s the Problem Represented to Be" (WPR) approach combined with critical discourse analysis, the study finds that the NCD strategy frames NCDs primarily through a neoliberal lens emphasizing individual responsibility for health behaviors, while largely neglecting broader socio-cultural and structural determinants such as poverty, inequality, and healthcare access. The strategy’s reliance on international expertise and evidence-based interventions is noted to potentially marginalize local knowledge systems and lived experiences. The article concludes by advocating for a more context-specific, inclusive approach that integrates local perspectives, addresses structural factors, and acknowledges the coexistence of infectious diseases and NCDs in Botswana.