24 Nov 2016

Minister of Health and Wellness says she is not aware of any variation in the CD4 cut off point for initiation of Anti-Retroviral (ARV) treatment used in Botswana and the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations.

Answering a question in Parliament, Ms Dorcas Makgato said in its 2016 ARV therapy guidelines, WHO recommended that all HIV positive patients should be initiated on ARV drugs irrespective of CD4 count.

She said this was known as the Treat All Strategy, which Botswana had since adopted and was currently implementing.

“This was launched by the President on June 3 2016,” she said.

Member of Parliament for Jwaneng/Mabutsane, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile had asked the minister if she was aware of any variation in the CD4 cut off point for initiation of ARV therapy treatment used in Botswana and the WHO recommendation and if so, to state the CD4 cut off point in use versus the WHO cut off recommendation, challenges being experienced as a result and benefits that could be derived from adopting the WHO guidelines. BOPA