Rre Masisi Do Like Mogae

Even bolder was getting the nation to face the pandemic head-on, to speak about it and break the silence, thus addressing the stigma. He got leaders, at all levels – Cabinet, Parliament, Dikgosi and all other leaders – to ensure that their speeches did not go without the words HIV and AIDS. The ostrich head in the sand syndrome was broken, and the nation was educated to know about the life-threatening condition and its implications if not attended to, urgently. 

Out of denial Batswana came, and more and more tested, and those infected starting taking life-saving therapy and the death toll dropped. Stigma, though still there especially in small circles, was broken, and today IDCC clinics across the country are visited and Botswana’s story has changed for the better. But not completely. With development, the good comes with the bad.