05 Jan 2020

Botswana is said to have been a global leader in responding to the HIV pandemic, through research, policies and the provision of health services, including ground breaking work in the development of ARVs and the Prevention of Mother-to-child Transmission (PMTCT).

Acting University of Botswana Vice chancellor, Professor Oathokwa Nkomazana said this feat was achieved through working with international collaborators.

The professor said this when giving a key note address at a seminar organised by Office of Research and Development (Ethics Unit) to discuss a report entitled:  Advancing the HIV prevention and treatment evidence based in pregnancy in Botswana.

Prof. Nkomazana said much work still needed to be done as in 2002, noting that Botswana was the first country in eastern and southern Africa to provide free universal ART to citizens affected by HIV, and the national Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) coverage rates continue to rise.

She lauded the Assistant Director, Research Ethics at the University of Botswana Dr Mary Kasule for ‘her tireless efforts and commitment at both university and national levels’.

She noted that Dr Kasule had helped to lead the growth of a strong system in Botswana, promoting ethical research practices that respect, protect and care for citizens and communities that participate in research.
“Engaging in thoughtful analysis and conversation about these issues is critical to identifying the best path forward. I am so pleased that, through Dr Kasule’s research, today we will hear about the experiences and viewpoints of stakeholders in Botswana on this important topic,” Prof. Nkomazana said.

She said as healthcare policies and services were further refined to achieve the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030, researchers  must continue to ensure that their research policies and projects strive to be responsive to the needs of Botswana’s population and reflect the highest ethical standards.

Giving findings on challenges and opportunities of a research, Dr Kasule said critical research gaps existed in HIV treatment and prevention in pregnancy, explaining that stakeholders must identify numerous challenges in advancing the need for research.

Dr Kasule said clear guidance and specific legal regulatory frame work were needed for the research, explaining that pregnant women had historically been excluded from biometric research, largely due to concerns about potential foetal risk.

“HIV has been an exception to this practice, with pregnant women being an important focus of research since ground breaking studies to prevent maternal to child transmission began in the early 1990s in Botswana,” she said.

She also explained that globally, women’s own health outcomes were not given equitable consideration in this work, until more recently and pregnant women remained widely excluded from trials of biomedical HIV preventatives, treatment of HIV and co-infections.

Dr Kasule added that the project, which was funded through the global forum on bioethics in research fellowship, Welcome trust, in affiliation with the Phases project, explored the views and experiences of stakeholders in Botswana.

Earlier, when welcoming guests, Dr Graham Hall, Director, Office of Research Development said the dissemination of the results of a research provided policy makers with the opportunity to consider implementing its findings as well as to explore its implications and opportunities for future research.

Dr Hall said the reason why the study was being discussed, was because research into pregnant women’s health challenged by HIV/AIDS was a priority.

The seminar was graced by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States of America, Research Scientist, Dr Kristen Sullivan, who presented two papers one entitled: Ethical considerations for HIV research with pregnant women and introduction to phases study and the other entitled: Draft ethics guidance for HIV research in pregnancy from the phases working group. ENDS