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Just back from a trip to the southern African country, Special UN Envoy Stephen Lewis said Botswana was "the epicentre of the pandemic in Africa, and yet, the way things are evolving, it may also be a model of the international response." Speaking to reporters in New York, Mr. Lewis used stark statistics to portray the devastation caused by AIDS in Botswana. He said that among 15-49 year olds, 38.8 per cent of all people were HIV positive - the highest rate in the world. The statistics on women were even grimmer; infection rates for females were 26.7 per cent among 15-19 year olds, 43.6 per cent for 20-24 year-olds, and - "incredibly enough" - 52.3 per cent for 25-29 year olds. Summing up what these numbers meant, he said, "I suppose [it] is like saying that one out of every two women in their twenties has been issued a death warrant, unless we can conceivably turn it around." In the face of this catastrophe, the Botswana government was committed to the "most ambitious combination of programmes" on the continent, Mr. Lewis informed. Botswana was aiming to provide treatment for 60,000 to 100,000 people by the end of the year. The implications would reverberate beyond the country's borders, he said. "If it is successful, it will provide momentum and encouragement to all of the afflicted countries in east and southern Africa and beyond." Mr. Lewis said that in order for the government's efforts to succeed, good people and resources were badly needed. "They need a squadron of decent human beings who are willing to spend some significant time in the country to facilitate this historic undertaking," he observed. - You've got something called a pandemic, which is tearing the heart of the country, he pointed out. "And the consequences of AIDS on the country's economy and capacity to respond should be part of the calculation - should be factored into the calculation - of eligibility for support or funding." - We see before us the most dramatic experiment on the continent, imminently to be undertaken, he said. "If it succeeds, it will give heart to absolutely every country worldwide. I refuse to contemplate the possibility of failure." Although Botswana had been late in seriously answering the disaster slowly taking grip of the country, President Festus Mogae last year started concrete and firm action. Noting that "the economically active in Botswana are being decimated and life expectancy is calculated to have fallen by 20 years, from 67 to 47," (Mogae) action was directed towards prevention. - One of our major strategies to fight this rampant scourge has been the establishment of a multisectoral National Council that I personally chair, Festus Mogae informed in October 2000. "The thrust of our strategy is information, education and communication, combined with concerted efforts to destigmatise HIV/AIDS." His government's most prominent female minister, Ms. Tebelelo Seretse, has also launched several campaign targeted at empowering Botswana women, increasingly the principal victim of the pandemic. This has included tougher action on rape and sexual abuse. While action so far has concentrated on HIV prevention, the high number of affected now also has made it necessary to pay more attention on treatment. Almost 40% of the active population HIV positive, life-prolonging medical treatment also will have a direct impact on Botswana's productivity. Treatment strategies in Botswana for now focus on pain management, symptomatic treatment and treatment of opportunistic infections. The planned massive introduction of anti-retroviral treatment in Botswana's public health facilities is also set to increase life expectancy significantly. Sources:
UN and afrol archives
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