03 Dec 2017

Botswana has been commended for robust programmes that have been implemented to fight HIV/AIDS.

Giving a keynote address at the World AIDS Day commemoration in Bobonong on December 1, President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama said therefore this year’s day must be used as a platform to introspect and roll out best practices from the programmes that have been implemented successfully.

President Khama stated that the day was also the time for countries to reflect and track progress made towards the fight against the AIDS scourge.

He said the theme for this year commemoration; Right to Health was a build up from last year’s theme, Hands Up for HIV, which calls for inclusive access to HIV services and further calls for elimination of any form of stigma and discrimination that may hinder access to services to any segment of the population.

President Khama explained that ‘without the right to health, people cannot effectively prevent HIV or access treatment and care services and further stated that the right to health was not only access to quality health services and medicines, but also includes a range of important assurances.

He said the theme is befitting as it touches on the core of our revitalised primary health care approach that promotes access, quality, equity and sustainable health services.

Since independence President Khama explained that Botswana’s health care system has always ensured that we all have access to health services with the country investing in infrastructural development of health care facilities.

He said there were notable strides that have beenmde as a way to achieve epidemic control of HIV by 2020 and end HIV/AIDS by 2030.

Botswana, he explained, introduced the PMTCT programme in 1999 and was also the first country in the Sub-Saharan Africa to provide universal free antiretroviral treatment to people living with HIV in 2002.

When we started ART programme in 2002 only four hospitals being Princess Marina, Sekgoma, Nyangabgwe and Letsholathebe offered the services and today the services were rolled out in all health facilities across the country, he said.

Further he stated that today everyone who tests positive irrespective of their CD4 counts receives treatment under the Treat All Strategy launched in June last year, unlike in the past where people were put on treatment if they were of a certain eligibility determined by their CD4 count.

When ART started in 2002 President Khama explained that there were only 2 797 people on treatment and today a total of 306 207 people are on the programme which shows a commitment by government to provide affordable quality health care to the nation.

For her part, Minister of Health and Wellness, Ms Dorcus Makgato commended President Khama for the Treat for All Strategy, which she said was a legacy he would be leaving as he retires next year.

Ms Makgato said the country had strong responsive strategies to HIV/AIDS and said efforts for zero infections by 2030 were not farfetched.

Ms Makgato stated that the country was not lagging behind in ending HIV as it had robust programmes to end the scourge, but was concerned with new infections, especially in young children perpetrated by elderly people, which calls for stringent measures to deal with such people.

She appealed to parents to allow health workers and teachers to offer children public education on issues of sexuality.

She also explained that safe male circumcision was at 53 per cent and the ministry was unable to reach the set target as many men were reluctant to engage in the campaign and also to test for the virus.

Giving the vote of thanks, MP for Bobonong, Mr Shaw Kgathi commended government ART programme, saying prior to intervention many people died.

Mr Kgathi also commended the interventions of US embassy as well as other international bodies for helping the country to be secure.

However, he expressed concern that Bobonong Primary Hospital which was constructed in 1970 when the population was still small, was facing challenges of capacity, saying it had only 20 beds and had to cater for a population of over 60 000. Ends