Botswana Implements Strategies to Alleviate Impact of US Aid Suspension

Synopsis

In response to the suspension of US aid, Botswana is implementing measures to support patients affected by the closure of CSOs and NGOs involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. The Ministry of Health is urging the public to utilize public health facilities as an alternative.

Key Takeaways

Botswana is taking immediate action to support HIV/AIDS patients.
The suspension of US foreign aid has affected many CSOs and NGOs.
Public health facilities will serve as alternative service points.
Ongoing consultations with stakeholders for further service provision.
Antiretroviral medication remains available through government procurement.

Gaborone, Feb 6 (NationPress) Botswana is initiating temporary measures to support patients impacted by the shutdown of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that provide essential HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services due to the halt of US foreign aid. Christopher Nyanga, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, stated on Thursday that every effort will be made to ensure these services continue as before.

"Fortunately, in some instances, some of these partners have been delivering services at public health facilities," Nyanga mentioned, noting that it remains uncertain how long the CSOs and NGOs will be out of operation.

Thus, the ministry encourages the public and clients who have relied on these CSOs and NGOs to visit the nearest public health facilities for their needs, he added.

Meanwhile, Nyanga revealed that the ministry is still in discussions with other stakeholders regarding alternative provisions for services such as those for victims of gender-based violence. He assured that the government will provide further updates on new developments and initiatives.

Botswana has numerous CSOs and NGOs functioning within the health sector that are directly impacted by the US government's decision to suspend support, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Nyanga had previously stated that this situation "does not affect the availability of antiretroviral medication as that is directly procured by the Botswana government."

He emphasized that the ministry will engage all stakeholders, including the US Embassy, in discussions on maintaining the affected services.

For years, Botswana has benefited from aid from the United States in the health sector, and many local US-funded civil society organisations have reported that they have been instructed to cease their operations immediately.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund, 20.8 percent of Botswanans aged 15-65 are living with HIV. This equates to approximately 329,000 adults affected by the virus.