Former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae has warned that HIV/AIDS is threatening to upset the progress Botswana has made toward achieving some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Addressing congregants at a farewell dinner hosted by the National AIDS Coordinating Agency on Friday, Mogae said the AIDS scourge was the main reason he stood up during the United Nations summit in 2001 and asked for assistance.
He said HIV and AIDS was causing unbearable effects in most sectors of the economy to the extent that the country had to introduce the Home-Based Care Programme as there was no accommodation to admit patients in various hospitals across the country. He admitted that HIV and AIDS has become the nation’s biggest problem since independence.
Commending Mogae, Vice
President Mokgweetsi Masisi said it was pleasing to note that Mogae had the vision and zeal to save Botswana from this scourge. He also commended Mogae for publicly acknowledging the threat that HIV and AIDS pose to the nation.