Through the funding, Comprehensive HIV Prevention and Care Programme will be implemented by Jhpiego, Stepping Stones International, and Tebelopele Wellness Centre over a two-year period in 18 districts across the country. It also aims to improve health outcomes through strengthened primary health care and social services. During the programme launch this week, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health (MoH) Prof Oatlhokwa Nkomazana said the projects were carefully designed to provide complementary support to the government’s critical priorities in the areas of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).
She added that their collective goal was to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030 by demonstrating global best practices in health and revitalising primary health care in the country. “The Ministry congratulates the three organisations; Stepping Stones International, Tebelopele Wellness Centre and Jhpiego on being selected to implement these transformative programmes to strengthen our HIV response as a country. We sincerely appreciate the U.S. government’s unwavering dedication to supporting Botswana's health initiatives,” she said. “Our government has made significant strides in the global HIV response, being a global leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Today, the country has one of the highest rates of viral suppression in the world and has achieved the UNAIDS 2030 fast-track targets of 95-95-95 by reaching an impressive 95-98-98.” Nkomazana further stated that despite that monumental achievement, their work was by no means over adding that they had a collective responsibility to reach all populations and leaving no one behind, especially the remaining 5-2-2 populations. She also said they had to continue to innovate and expand their services to address those gaps. She added that their focus must be on elevating the quality of life for all and sustaining the gains by maintaining a country-owned, sustainable direction that leaves no one behind.
