"Leadership has begun to pay off in terms of the thousands of lives that are being saved and prolonged; in the reduction of mother to child transmission rates to just under four percent and in the availability of Anti-Retroviral Therapy to more than 16, 000 Batswana," he said. Nolan complimented the Botswana government saying that strong leadership and proactive policies are important elements in the country's success. "Just as important, however, is the kind of grassroots civil society leadership we see represented today.

With committed organisations like Tebelopele, I believe Botswana can achieve the goal of an AIDS free generation by 2016 and win the fight against HIV and AIDS," he stated.

The United States Department of Defense, together with the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), have built and officially opened the 12th and final Tebelopele VCTC in Francistown. Nolan officially opened the second biggest VCTC building. 

He said that the Office of the Security Cooperation at the US Embassy funded the design and construction of the facility.

"The first Tebelopele VCTC, paid for by the US, was completed in 2005, and this is the final one to be built under this programme. It is a great example of the kind of productive partnership that is the heart of AFRICOM's mission," he said.

Nolan further stated that the new centre reflects the good relationship between Botswana and the United States.

"I am delighted to be here to dedicate the new centre which represents a milestone in the relationship between the US and Botswana," he said. The ambassador also urged people to use the facilities. "Go in there and get tested, we have put the money in it and now it is time for you to go in there and get tested and know your status," he stated.

He went on to say that in 2000, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC)/BOTUSA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), the US Embassy's Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) and others, piloted the delivery of voluntary counselling and testing services in Gaborone and Francistown, with Tebelopele in the lead.

"Since then, Tebelopele has served as a key element of Botswana's national response to HIV and AIDS providing VCT services as well as other care and support services," he said.

The new building is not far from the city centre and it boasts Tebelopele bright colours like peach, light green, yellow and more and it is a second storey building with a lounge, a conference room, a bigger waiting area that can seat 42 people, several counselling rooms, regional manager office, lead counsellor's office, laboratory and other offices.

Nolan said that the US is proud to help Botswana in the fight against HIV and AIDS. "The United States has committed more than US$300 million, which is equivalent to P2.1 billion, to Botswana over the past five years through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to combat HIV and AIDS," he said.

He further said that the US Embassy in Botswana has a wide variety of programmes that complement the Botswana government's own efforts. "This is one such programme," he said. Accompanying the US Ambassador was Lieutenant Colonel William M. Wyatt whose department is responsible for the 12 centres around Botswana.