08 Jun 2023

A delegation from the Zimbabwe National AIDS Council has applauded efforts by the Ramotswa District Multi Sectorial AIDS Committee (DMSAC) in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The delegation comprising health professionals was on a learning and exchange visit and hosted by the Botswana National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA).

Briefing the guests, Ramotswa DMSAC Technical Advisory Committee chairperson, Dr Mpho Ramato said preliminary results from the Fifth Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS V) indicated that Ramotswa District had 98 per cent testing, 98 per cent initiation, 96.8 per cent viral load suppression and 12.8 per cent prevalence rate, thereby surpassing UNAIDS 95-95-95 target. 

The strategy calls for 95 per cent of all people with HIV to be aware of their status, 95 per cent of those aware of their status to be on ART and 95 per cent of those on ART to achieve viral load suppression by 2025.

“Prevention of Mother-to-Child-Transmission (PMTCT) is doing well in the district as shown by the good testing rate, good programme uptake, Mother-to-Child Transmission rate of 0.6 per cent, which is below national target of below one per cent. 

We also have reliable uninterrupted supply of infant formula for those who choose not to breastfeed,” he said.

Dr Ramato said there was significant improvement in the sexually transmitted infections programme uptake though there was a worrying trend of inconsistent use of condoms.

He said collaborations with organisations such as BOCHAIP and Tlokweng’s Nkaikela Youth Group led to high number of HIV testing. 

On the Antiretroviral Therapy programme uptake, Dr Ramato said most of the patients were virally suppressed and were at about 99.2 per cent.

He said successes in the district was as a result of the collaborated efforts by different stakeholders. 

Dr Ramato said despite efforts to contain the scourge even nationally there were still some new infections recorded.

The delegation took turns to commend the DMSAC for its impressive efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Zimbabwe head of delegation, Mr Raymond Yekeye appreciated the district AIDS committee for having made insightful presentations, adding that his team was looking forward to more fruitful cooperation. 

He said they visited the district as one of the success stories in the efforts towards fighting the scourge.

For his part, Taung headman of record, Kgosi Pogiso Botlhole said traditional leadership had a significant role to play in the fight against HIV/AIDS as evidenced by the highly successful Communities Acting Together to Combat HIV (CATCH) model, which addressed challenges such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Acting Ramotswa District Council secretary, Mr Tsholofelo Molaodi said the benchmarking visit was a validation of national efforts as well as opportunity for ongoing corporation between the two countries in working together towards the fight against HIV/AIDS in the region and the African continent.

He said the nation was not out of the woods yet, but collaborative efforts in fighting the scourge were visible and had to be applauded. ends