The Global AIDS Coordinator for the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Ambassador Eric Goosby, will be on a three-day visit to Botswana, beginning Thursday this week.
While in Botswana, Ambassador Goosby will meet with government and civil society, and visit programs jointly supported by PEPFAR, the Government, and other cooperating partners to observe the progress made in addressing the AIDS epidemic and other health challenges a statement issued by the embassy on Monday says.
During this visit, Dr. Goosby will visit the University of Botswana Medical School to discuss progress and further opportunities for improving the human capacity to meet Botswana’s health challenges. He will also visit the Central Medical Stores to view the successes to date in improving the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of the country’s supply chain for health commodities.
U.S. Ambassador to Botswana, Stephen Nolan, said, “We are extremely pleased to welcome Ambassador Goosby to Botswana. As President Obama’s point person for the U.S. Government’s global efforts to address HIV/AIDS, I think it is important that Ambassador Goosby sees firsthand the successes that Botswana has achieved ÔÇô many with the support of the United States ÔÇô because the success stories here may well prove to be models for other countries.”
Since 2004, the U.S. Government has invested over P 2.4 billion to support Botswana’s efforts against HIV and AIDS. During the first phase of PEPFAR, the U.S. assisted the Government to reach more than 80 percent of its HIV positive citizens with life-saving anti-retroviral drugs and to achieve a 96 percent success rate in preventing mother-to-child transmission. The strong partnership between PEPFAR and the Government of Botswana has helped develop even stronger public-private cooperation with other U.S. foundations, and the renowned public health programs from the universities of Pennsylvania, Baylor and Harvard.
Ambassador Goosby was confirmed as the United States Global AIDS Coordinator in June 2009. He leads all U.S. Government international HIV/AIDS efforts, including implementation of the U.S. PEPFAR program, which includes U.S. Government engagement with the Global Fund. With the support of the American people, the U.S. Government has committed approximately $32 billion to bilateral HIV/AIDS programs, the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and bilateral TB programs through 2010.
