If indeed this attitude is prevalent, it is an unfortunate thing for the country, because the current Government expenditure on HIV/AIDS, public sector wage bill and other things, suggests that the Government should worry about a highly probable unsustainability in some of these areas.
Botswana is disqualified from the Global Alliance on Vaccines Initiative (GAVI) because of its income classification, since GAVI has a cut-off point of $1000 per capita GDP. GAVI supports most African countries in purchasing vaccines, including new ones, and in strengthening routine immunisation services. Similarly, Botswana does not qualify for the Drug Access Initiative of the Stop TB Partnership, which also has an income threshold. The initiative provides free anti-TB drugs to many African countries. These are just two examples, but there are many others. I have learnt that in relation to broader development initiatives, our country is also excluded from the US President's Millennium Challenge Account, a veritable cash cow that is doling out millions of dollars to selected countries, the main conditions for qualification being standards of governance, and it turns out, per capita income. Again, on the basis of its "Higher" middle income status, Botswana does not qualify.
