11 Jul 2016

A Health official in Ngamiland has commended the United States government through the MAATLA project for making a difference in the uptake of health services in the district.

The official from the District Health Management Team (DHMT), Ms Gasemotho Kedikilwe said since the implementation of the project in 2010, health facilities in the district had experienced reduction in tuberculosis cases, defaulters and deaths.

Ms Kedikilwe was speaking at meeting to reflect on the achievements and challenges encountered during the implementation period of the project which was supported by the USAID.

The five year project recognised Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and the government as key partners in HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) response by providing range of services.

Ms Kedikilwe said through their collaboration with Botswana Christian AIDS Intervention Programme (BOCAIP) and BONEPWA mobilisers, they managed to save the lives of the community by providing high quality services.

She noted that the mobilisers had made a positive impact as in 2010, the district registered 299 cases of tuberculosis and by the end of the project only 221 cases were recorded while treatment success stood at 80 per cent.

Regarding the HIV testing rate amongst TB patients, she said there was improvement as the numbers increased significantly during the years.

Ms Kedikilwe also explained that the uptake of ARV among HIV positive TB patients was satisfactory.

Another speaker, a nurse from Shorobe clinic, Mr Keabetswe Babotseng said since the implementation of the project, they have 400 patients active on HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) and only 31 deaths were recorded while on TB they had a sharp decrease noting that they registered nine patients of which five were enrolled on HAART.

He acknowledged the assistance they got from BOCAIP and BONWEPA volunteers in the reduction of TB cases in their facility. He said the volunteers did a good job in disseminating key messages adding that many people preferred to test in their facility.

Mr Babotseng requested that more volunteers be placed in hard to reach areas and also that the funding be increased because now they were talking new strategies such as treat for all.

Some of the Civil Society Organisations which were key partners to the project also praised it for transforming their organizations.

The chief executive director of Ngamiland Council of Non-Governmental Organizations (NCONGO), Mr Monametsi Sokwe said the project made them visible thus making them being recognised both nationally and internationally. He said they used to be allocated P2million but the money was increased to P4 million.

The chief executive director of BOCAIP, Ms Lorato Mphusu said the project had reshaped her organisation as a lot of things had been changed. She said many organisations struggled to sustain projects due to lack of funding and “we have benefited a lot from MAATLA project”.

Ms Mphusu thanked the USAID and FHI360 for their support adding that NGOs now work together and also complement one another as they do not compete for services. FHI360 is a non-profiting international development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated locally driven solutions to complex human development challenges. ENDS