"3 by 5" Country Success Stories

This couple accessed antiretroviral treatment in Botswana, WHO/Eric Miller

BOTSWANA

Political leadership shows the way

  • Faced with the second highest HIV prevalence in the world (37%), the Government has made HIV/AIDS a priority and has adopted a long-term vision to have no new HIV infections by 2016.

  • By 2004, 23 sites were offering ARV therapy. Only two districts had no facilities for ART.

  • By March 2004, over 2 200 health workers had been trained. 536 were recruited to support ART and PMTCT (prevention of mother-to-child transmission) programmes.

  • About one quarter of people on ART receive it through private facilities. In the public sector, ART is free of charge.

  • Treatment adherence is high (85%).
  • Major social mobilization campaigns promote a supportive environment for people living with HIV and AIDS, as well as their families.

  • In January 2004, a routine offer of testing was introduced in hospitals. In the first four months, 18 hospitals offered testing to 6 384 people - 86% opted to be tested.

  • Botswana has a successful public-private partnership (The African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS partnership with the Gates Foundation, Merck Foundation and pharmaceutical company Merck & Co.) which plays a critical role in the scale up of HIV testing and AIDS treatment.

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    Last update:

    1 December 2010 09:32 CET