GABORONE, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) in Botswana is engaging with the Botswanan government to address a declared public health emergency on the medicine shortage in the country, said a UN statement issued on Monday.

The UN in Botswana pledged to provide both immediate and long-term solutions to tackle the crisis, and will work through two established mechanisms, the National Task Force and the National Steering Committee, to facilitate a coordinated response, said the statement.

This effort will be led by the World Health Organization, with contributions from the UN Children's Fund, the Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS, other relevant UN agencies and partners, it added.

"The UN is committed in the days and weeks ahead to coordinate the response, working closely with the government to leverage our convening power for 'urgent action' in the country to protect the health and future of everyone in Botswana," said the UN Resident Coordinator in Botswana Yang Wenyan.

On Aug. 25, Duma Boko, president of Botswana, announced the establishment of a medical fund to mobilize the required resources to address the immediate medical needs of the southern African country. ■