17 Oct 2014

Botswana still faces a formidable challenge of changing people’s behaviour, deputy coordinator at National AIDS Coordinating Agency, Mr Fraiser Tlhoiwe has said. 

Mr Tlhoiwe said people continued to indulge in lifestyle behaviors that predisposed them to infections. Such lifestyle behaviours were, but not limited to unprotected sex, multiple concurrent partnerships as well as alcohol and drug abuse.

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of the 15th batch of Peace Corps, dubbed Bots 15, Mr Tlhoiwe informed them that they were coming to Botswana at a time when the country was at a critical crossroad of realising Vision 2016 that outlined an ambitious goal of no new HIV infection by 2016.

The peace corps volunteers also learnt that they arrived in Botswana at a time when the country and the global community were moving ahead with intensifying HIV prevention efforts to reach the goal of an HIV free generation. 

This was because part of the roles of Peace Corps volunteers is to help in the fight against HIV and AIDS as well as creating friendship between Botswana and the United States of America.

“As we all know, HIV and AIDS remains one of the greatest public health and socio-economic development challenge in Botswana today,” Mr Tlhoiwe said at a ceremony marking the 11th anniversary of the Peace Corps return to Botswana to assist in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Mr Tlhoiwe revealed that Botswana AIDS Impact Survey 2013 showed an estimated 10 000 new infections per year, a slight decrease from the previous 15 000 new infections per year. However, Mr Tlhoiwe presented Botswana’s achievements with regard to delivering HIV and AIDS programmes to the people. 

Such programmes as prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV were presented as having made remarkable achievements at a success rate of 96 per cent of HIV negative babies by infected mothers.

The deputy AIDS coordinator signaled a notable achievement in decline in AIDS related deaths attributed to introduction of free anti-retroviral drugs. 

“We are proud to be the first country in Africa to introduce a universally free ARV to HIV and AIDS clients,” Mr Tlhoiwe said and pointed out that there were 235, 688 patients currently receiving HAART in Botswana. 

In addition to the aforementioned HIV interventions, Mr Tlhoiwe added that Botswana has also started implementing the recommendations of World Health Organisation of starting ARV treatment at a threshold of 350 CD4 count. 

The move is said to prolong lives of HIV positive clients and also delay opportunistic infections among HIV positive clients. 

On other related issues Mr Tlhoiwe relayed Botswana’s gratitude to the USA for the assistance provided by the Peace Corps volunteers. “Your invaluable service is recognized in the health sector where you continue to assist communities in responding to HIV and AIDS by strengthening HIV and AIDS prevention, care and treatment and as well as building capacity,” he concluded. ENDS