25 Aug 2020

Some operations at the National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA) have been disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Briefing the media in Gaborone on Monday, NAHPA’s programme planning division manager, Mr Moagi Kenosi, said the first lockdown affected supply of condoms.

He said most manufactures and suppliers were foreign-based companies, which were closed during that period, adding that transportation also remained a challenge. 

He, however, said the supply was now normalising because a certain company was engaged to distribute condoms countrywide. 

Mr Kenosi said it was also a challenge to reach some of their clients during the extreme social distancing period because the organisation’s outreach programme entailed going from house to house in order to effectively pass messages and offer other services. 

Mr Kenosi highlighted that under normal circumstances, they travelled to schools to educate students about HIV and AIDS. 

He also noted that most of the platforms they employed to convey messages to the general public could not be used during this period.  

He further said training of their personnel and transportation of materials were affected. 

Mr Kenosi pointed out that a number of projects were put on hold, among them, research on the state of HIV usually carried out after every five years. 

He said in an effort to assist government in the fight against COVID-19, they engaged donors to raise additional funds. 

He explained that Global Fund assisted with P32 000 000, The President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) donated P81 000 000 while NAHPA set aside P10 000 000 from its budget. 

He said staff members were also availed to assist in contract tracing. 

He said UNAIDS donated COVID-19 equipment including sanitisers. 

Mr Kenosi said in order for the message to reach their clients, NAHPA had to employ different strategies such as the use of radio and social media platforms to hold meetings. 

“These virtual meetings saved us a lot of money,” he said.  He also indicated that they contracted 15 non-governmental organisations to assist in information dissemination. Ends