03 Sep 2020

Infectious disease control centres and other structures originally created to cater for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) clients now offer integrated services.

National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA) acting coordinator, Mr Joseph Caiphus told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday that the integration process was initiated because it was cost effective.

 To date, 135 out of 141 centres were now providing integrated services, he said.

Mr Caiphus said sexual reproductive health services, such as family planning,  were now being provided at many such centres. 

Following a successful integration programme piloted in three districts of Mahalapye, Kgatleng and Kweneng East  2011-2015, Mr Caiphus said the programme was now being rolled out.

He said phase one of the programme covered Boteti, Okavango, Selebi Phikwe, Serowe, Francistown, Palapye, South East, Bobirwa, Kgalagadi North and North East district health management teams.

On another issue, he informed PAC that Central Medical Stores developed annual medicine requirements through forecasting and quantification based on consumption needs.

Mr Caiphus said medicines were biodegradable adding that  shelf life determined how much could be stocked to avoid expiries.

He said quantification had been done up to December 2021.

“For long term sustainability of ARV medicines procurement, Botswana will use pool procurement mechanisms, which are highly cost effective and sustainable,” he said. 

Mr Caiphus revealed that the country had two options, the SADC pooled procurement system and the global fund one. Ends