27 Jan 2019

Professor Max Essex, founding member and chairperson of the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership (BHP), has been commended for contributing to HIV/AIDS research in Botswana.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Alfred Madigele, made the commendation at a farewell dinner for Prof Essex in Gaborone last week.

He said Prof Essex and the BHP’s work had contributed to the country’s efforts on the war against the HIV/AIDS scourge.

“Professor Essex and the BHP have partnered with the Ministry of Health and Wellness on HIV/AIDS-related public health challenges whose outcomes have assisted in formulating policies and strategies to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Botswana and indeed globally,” he noted.

Furthermore, Dr Madigele indicated that under Prof Essex’s mentorship and guidance, BHP research that had contributed to translational policy and strengthening of the healthcare system included Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, the establishment of the national anti-retroviral therapy programme, among others.

The minister added that Prof Essex had been a strong advocate for capacity building, from which several Batswana scientists had benefitted through training at the Essex Laboratory under his direct mentorship to attain their PhDs.

“These scientists have contributed to the acceleration of the decentralisation of our laboratory capacity and support of our strategic national laboratory plans,” he said.

Former president, Dr Festus Mogae also lauded Prof Essex for the role he had played in helping Botswana in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Dr Mogae said the latter’s contribution, through research, came at a time when Botswana was known to be the most affected by HIV in the world.

He said it was commendable that Prof Essex and other collaborators from Harvard University had chosen to help Botswana at a time when the nation was at the brink of being defeated by the pandemic.

Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Unity Dow, also highlighted Prof Essex’s role in helping Botswana in the country’s war against HIV/AIDS.

She said Prof Essex’s strong belief that a positive outcome had to be attained despite the odds being stacked against the country, had been an inspiration that kept Botswana going in the efforts to contain the scourge.

Prof Essex said while the work of the BHP had been instrumental in helping Botswana address the challenges brought about by HIV/AIDS, the institution would not have continued to achieve its mandate over the years had it not been for the support of the government of Botswana through the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Prof Essex retired after 22 years of service to the people of Botswana in the area of HIV/AIDS research. ENDS