29 Aug 2013

Government spends P1.3 billion annually in the procurement of HIV/AIDS drugs, according to health minister, Dr John Seakgosing.

Addressing a kgotla meeting at Salajwe in Letlhakeng Sub-district on Tuesday, Dr Seakgosing said the cost was likely to go up as government intended to increase the CD4 count of eligible people from 250 to 350. Dr Seakgosing said despite all these efforts, people were still careless with ARVs, as some took them with alcohol while others collected them, but did not take them.

“Even though this move will prove even more costly to government, it has to be carried out as it is one way of ensuring the well-being of the nation in as far as health is concerned,” he said. He said this failure to adhere to ARVs might lead to multi drug resistance tuberculosis (MDR TB), which would cost government even more as one patient under MDR TB treatment needed P200 per day.

The minister also reiterated the government’s concern about the high prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS in the country, despite the well spread messages on HIV/AIDS prevention and cure countrywide since 1985. “Currently, the country has a prevalence rate of 17.6 per cent. This is a large number taking into consideration that other countries have less than one per cent prevalence rate. This paints Botswana badly especially on the international stage,” he said.

On other issues, Dr Seakgosing said it was necessary for residents to appreciate the ministries’ efforts in taking services to the people. He said challenges facing the ministry included lack of transport in most clinics across the country because when clinics were taken over from the local government, most clinic vehicles were in bad conditions.

“There were also some incidences where clinic vehicles in good conditions were secretly swapped with those in bad conditions from other departments,” he said. For his part, Kgosi Moala Gaedupe of Salajwe appreciated the efforts of the ministry, saying their clinic was well staffed.

He also appreciated that ARVs were now accessible in local clinics unlike in the past were they travelled long distances to Letlhakeng to get them. However, Kgosi Gaedupe complained about shortage of ambulances at Salajwe clinic. ENDS