11 Jul 2021

Government has welcomed the newly launched national dreams database system from the US government as an important tool that will set a solid foundation for comprehensive evidence-based approach to the Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) programme.

Speaking at the launch of the system Friday, Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said the database would capture bio-medical, education social protection and other socio-economic interventions that were provided to beneficiaries.

“It will provide information needed to better improve the quality of programmes given to the AGYW demographic in the national HIV/AIDS response.

Lack of data and many other challenges posed concerns on the efficiency and effectiveness of the Dreams movement,” Minister Dikoloti said.

He added that there was, however, need for a structured and collated data system for the Dreams to achieve their goal, thus thanked the US government the gesture, saying it would further strengthen accountability by all partners as well as provide real time data for programme improvement and impact.

He also commended the US government for its continued provision of human, technical and financial support through its agencies such as PEPFAR and USAID.

On the other hand, Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu, also welcomed the database system, saying it would go a long way in making a great addition to the wide range of tools and resources in the national HIV/AIDS response.

“The system will simplify our reporting systems as we migrate from paper-based system.

Entering data into a computerised system is less time consuming and will ensure efficacy from service providers,” Mr Mthimkhulu said.

He highlighted that the Dreams programme would also benefit a lot from the database as it would ensure easy data capturing and analysis.

“Analysed data will be used to identify where gaps were in the delivery of their services, so that remedial actions could be taken to improve the quality of services,” he added.

Mr Mthimkhulu also thanked the US government and its agencies for the continuous support to Botswana.

For his part, US Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Craig Cloud explained that the database provided a comprehensive package of core interventions to address key factors that made girls and young women particularly vulnerable to HIV, such as gender-based violence, lack of access to secondary schools and exclusion from economic opportunities.

Mr Craig Cloud added that the database was a great milestone that would assist Dreams in achieving its mandate.

He said through Dreams, lives of girls and women had been improved in terms of employment and reduced chances of contracting HIV.

“These are our future leaders and they have to be assisted and guided where the need arises,” he added.

Mr Cloud also indicated that the database was key in informing programme developers and different stakeholders in making informed decisions.

He further affirmed his government’s support to Batswana. ENDS