The reported shortage of drugs should be understood within the context of lack of political will to combat HIV/AIDS by the current regime. It also proves beyond doubt that the Minister of Health Dr John Seakgosi is incompetent, haphazard and unfit for the job. The BCPYL wants government to explain why drugs worth millions of Pula have been incinerated numerous times whilst there appears to be a shortage of other drugs. The procurement process and or planning of government must be scrutinised. The BCPYL is of the view that Reverend Seakgosing must resign as minister as he bears political responsibility for the crisis. The President must fire him if he doesnt resign. Deaths, HIV/AIDS related diseases and or drug resistance are inevitable aftermaths of the ARVs scarsitiy.
The shortage of ARVs in government facilities means that the youth, the poor and the marginlised communities have been or will be adversely affected as they do not have other means of accessing the life saving drugs. The government must get the message that its legitimacy rests on its ability to cater for its citizens, including in matters of health. Health is a right, not a priviledge as the government appears to think, enshrined in Article 25 of the 1948 United Nations Universal Declararation of Human Rights Health. The right to health by Batswana entails the right to prevention, treatment and control of diseases and access to essential medicines such as ARVs. The BCPYL is deeply concerned by the lackadaisical attitude of President Ian Khama and his government on matters of HIV/AIDS. Compared to former President Festus Mogae, Khama is not keen on issues of HIV/AIDS and his political will on the same is suspect. Not so long ago, government set up a task force to evaluate the modalities of ARV treatment cost sharing scheme under the pretext that provision of free ARVs is not sustainable.
