Following US President Donald Trump's 2025 executive orders halting funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the government has now confirmed the complete shutdown of Tebelopele Voluntary Testing and Counselling Services nationwide.
According to Ministry of Health spokesperson Christopher Nyanga, following their initial statement that the United States of America (USA) will withdraw from the World Health Organization, which would not affect the availability of ARVs, the ministry has now confirmed the cessation of operations at a few agencies. “There are multiple civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations operating in the health space that were directly affected by the decision to suspend support,” Nyanga said.
He added that following this decision most CSOs and NGOs, especially arms performing functions in the HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, have since closed for business like Tebelopele Voluntary Testing and Counselling centres across the country, "in compliance with the decision”. The ministry has since then advised Batswana to opt for public health services as there is uncertainty as to how long this predicament will persist. Nyanga assured citizens that despite the recent developments, government would still be able to meet the demands of such services. “The ministry also wishes to inform the public that all possible efforts will be made to avail lubricants, condoms and other preventive devices at both public and private facilities so that no gap is experienced,” MoH communicated. The ministry highlighted that to mitigate the situation it would ensure that there are ARVs available at post offices despite the discontinued services at the centres. The latest developments are marked by the return of Trump who has now ceased most of US funding to global agencies, USAID and WHO.
