15 Jun 2017

National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA) deputy national coordinator, Mr Joseph Kefas says it is estimated that 403 326 people in Botswana are living with HIV.

Speaking at a HIV/AIDS and TB media training workshop organised by NACA on June 13, Mr Kefas said it was further estimated that 10 000 new infections occured since 2013, adding that the number had dropped from 15 000 in 2008.

He noted that Botswana was one of the countries with the highest levels of HIV prevalence in the world. He highlighted the risk areas that contributed to the high prevalence as inter-generational sex, multi concurrent partners, unsafe sexual practices, substance abuse and Gender Based Violence amongst others.

Mr Kefas said UNAIDS targets 90 per cent of people who know their status, 90 per cent of those who were currently on ART’s, 90 per cent of those who had virologically suppressed their virus, and those on ART which was equal to 73 per cent for virologically suppressed among all HIV negative people.

Mr Kefas said Botswana’s status was 83 per cent, 87 per cent and 96 per cent which equalled 70 per cent. (90%X90%X90%=73%) while Botswana’s current status is 83%X87%X96%=70%.

Mr Kefas said the Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) uptake was 74.9 per cent.

The deputy coordinator, who is also the manager of prevention, said it had been established that TB was closely related to HIV, and that the Ministry of Health and Wellness was working towards an integrated set of services for HIV and TB patients in health facilities.

A TB/HIV technical officer with NACA/Global Fund, Ms Grace Banda said there were 676 health facilities that had TB services and multi drug resistant TB care that had been decentralised to Gaborone, Serowe, Francistown, Maun and Ghanzi.

She noted that in 1975 there were 506 TB cases per 100 000 people and that in 2002 the cases rose to 623 due to HIV. However, he noted that after ART and other strategies the cases were reduced to 305 in 2014.

She added that TB was the leading cause of death in people living with HIV. NACA’s acting Global Fund Grant Coordinator, Mr Herman Butale said resources for the fight against TB/AIDS and malaria were dwindling, hence the importance of prevention which was cheaper than cure.

Mr Butale said according to the eligibility rating, Botswana was still eligible for funding because her HIV rate was extreme and TB rate severe.

He, however, said the malaria rate was moderate and that the country was moving towards not being eligible for funding. He said the status was worrisome because the country has experienced cases of malaria in areas that were not prone to the disease this year.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Dr Tebogo Mokgwane, head of preventative services in the Greater Francistown District Health Management Team, said the Ministry of Health and Wellness recognised the media as partners in the dissemination of health information.

He said having a cordial working relationship between the media and health personnel was a right step towards the attainment of a healthy nation, as the media reached some places where the ministry could not reach. ENDS