HIV prevention – New injection could boost the fight, but some hurdles remain

Mixed fortunes: Health Minister, Edwin Dikoloti is reaping accolades for the injectable ARV and strides in the achievement of other HIV targets. He however is also under pressure to improve supply of medicines for other diseases for Botswana PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Mixed fortunes: Health Minister, Edwin Dikoloti is reaping accolades for the injectable ARV and strides in the achievement of other HIV targets. He however is also under pressure to improve supply of medicines for other diseases for Botswana PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

While the world has focused on the COVID pandemic for nearly three years, less and less attention is being paid to HIV.

However, HIV is still a global problem. In 2021, according to the United Nations, 38.4 million people were living with HIV, over 650,000 died from AIDS-related illnesses, and 1.5 million became newly infected.

Nearly 70% of infections occur in key groups: sex workers and their clients, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, and transgender people and their sexual partners. Adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa are another important group, with nearly 5,000 getting HIV every week.

Editor's Comment
Inspect the voters' roll!

The recent disclosure by the IEC that 2,513 registrations have been turned down due to various irregularities should prompt all Batswana to meticulously review the voters' rolls and address concerns about rejected registrations.The disparities flagged by the IEC are troubling and emphasise the significance of rigorous voter registration processes.Out of the rejected registrations, 29 individuals were disqualified due to non-existent Omang...

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