20 Apr 2017

The initiatives Botswana has undertaken to combat the HIV/AIDS scourge are a model for many other countries in the world, the Global Champion for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 treatment target has said.

Briefing the media in Gaborone on Tuesday, Mr Marc Angel, who is heading a UNAIDS 90-90-90 field mission to Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho, said Botswana has achieved remarkable strides in combating the scourge.

“Botswana has done extremely well and is on target to achieving the three targets of the 90-90-90 campaign. 

Many countries across the world not just in Africa can learn from Botswana’s commitment to this battle,” Mr Angel said.

The 90-90-90 is an ambitious treatment campaign initiated by UNAIDS to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. 

The campaign’s aim is that by 2020, 90 per cent of HIV positive people should know their status; 90 per cent of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and that 90 per cent of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.

“Botswana has a government that has committed resources into the battle against HIV/AIDS and during our visit here we have been able to appreciate the work that has been done. 

We also went to community level and got to see the practical steps taken in this regard,” Mr Angel said.

The UNAIDS Director: Regional Support for Eastern and Southern Africa, Professor Sheila Tlou says Botswana is much further ahead of other states in the continent in terms of fighting HIV/AIDS.

“So many of the programmes implemented in this country could benefit other African states which are far behind in terms of reaching the 90-90-90 targets. 

We are liaising with governments in Eastern and Central Africa, and our hope is that most of the continent will eventually make similar strides,” Professor Tlou said.

The Minister of Health and Wellness, Ms Dorcas Makgatho said that while government had made headway in the battle against HIV/AIDS, they were still concerned about behavioural change.

“We have made the right steps in the direction of curative measures such as the ‘treat all’ universal provision of antiretroviral therapy to all infected people irrespective of their viral load. But we are still concerned about new infections taking place; we want people to take responsibility and avoid being infected,” Makgatho said.

The UNAIDS delegation, led by the Luxemburg legislator, Mr Angel included Ms Badara Sam, director of the Office of Special Initiative at UNAIDS in Geneva, Switzerland, as well as the Ms Roseline Murama and Ms Nadiene Schuepp also from UNAIDS headquarters.

They met with the Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, senior government officials and toured the village of Ramotswa, where they engaged the community in a kgotla meeting.  BOPA