It is worth stating dear reader that credit must be given where credit is due. Perhaps that BDP number one idiot, “That Mampara” who many a times has embarrassed the party as opposed to selling it positively will appreciate that indeed there are positive things we see and say about Dr Khama. I am reliably informed that Bangwato (or is it Bagamangwato, those minorities ruled and controlled from the central district head quarters, Serowe) whenever they praise Kgosi Kgolo Ian Khama in a poetic fashion refer to him as “Tshetlha ya Dikgwa”. Although, I am not a Mongwato (God forbid) nor am I a poet, allow me to join in the Bangwato chorus to address the man as Tshetlha as a way to praise him.
In any case, before I go any further, I wish to state that, That BDP number one idiot must be assisted by the party in rehabilitating him for he is suffering from a severe psychological disorder. I am not a clinical psychologist, but the man is not normal and spending a few times with behavioral scientists might assist. He is such an irritant, a mere “Mampara” crying out loud for political recognition. Each time he opens his mouth or attempts to put something on paper, it is just complete trash at times going around threatening to moor some of us mere mortals just on account that we have said or written something that does not praise ‘Tshetlha”.
Who will ever forget the Mike Tyson like killer punch he attempted to un- leash on me, at one of the up market restaurant in Gaborone, some years back. Fortunately it missed me and un- fortunately it landed on my lady friend who collapsed for a few minutes. Not noticing that he had missed the target went shouting” Eeks se le ge jou moor, ke tla go peita boy boy, Satane ke wena”
This piece is not about that Mampara that will be just the waste of time and energy and giving the man the attention he does not deserve. It is about giving credit to President Ian Khama, his administration and health experts at the Ministry of Health on the newly launched “Treatment for all” campaign. While President Ian Khama has previously been criticized for being too obsessed with issues of security and caring less on investing on health and education, his dramatic turnaround strategy will surely earn him the credit and respect he deserves. When he took over from that much celebrated global icon, Champion of HIV/AIDS, Festus Mogae, Khama appeared to be lost and completely clueless on issues of health policy and even shyed away from taking over from former President Mogae as Chair of National Aids Council (NAC).
It is important to note that at the International level, President Ian Khama is a highly celebrated icon and remains a figure that seems to fascinate many people. Most institutions of good governance tout Botswana as one of the best democracies in the world under his prospective leadership. In the year 2010, rankings of off African presidents, he was described as an African Democratic Darling. BDP parrots, apple polishers, errand boys and girls refer to him simply as “Rra Rona” an enigma and rare breed. With some crazy idiots within the movement stating that “They will kill for him”
With all due respect, President Khama deserves to be applauded for having taken these new initiatives as a way of redeeming himself. President Ian Khama officially launched the new drug called Tivicay or dolutegravir in Oodi, a small village outside Gaborone. The medicine will be administered to everyone diagnosed with HIV, whereas previously antiretroviral treatment (ART) has been reserved for sicker patients. Sub-Saharan Africa has been wiped by the HIV/AIDS pandemic with Botswana being the epicenter of the HIV epidemic for decades and nearly three quarters of all people with the AIDS-causing virus live there.
Approximately 100,000 more people were expected to start on ART, beginning this month, due to its roll-out. U.S. ambassador to Botswana Earl Miller said it meant the country would avert more than 120,000 new HIV infections and 55,000 deaths over the next 15 years. However, no financial details were given of the contract between ViiV and the Ministry of Health, something that does not sit very well with most people, academics and researchers. The secrecy in disclosing the financial resources employed is likely to back fire and make it difficult to deal with issues on how to strengthen health care financing and health systems in general.
With proper treatment, HIV is no-longer the imminent death sentence it once was. This means that patients with HIV are living longer than ever before. HIV used to be a fatal disease, but it’s now a chronic disorder. However, the greatest challenge that the country is facing is in having to deal with the epidemiological transition of having to deal with non communicable diseases.
Indeed we now have almost entire continent of sexually hyperactive indigents with rumors of people who only survive because of help from the outside world. The world has committed to ending the AIDS epidemics by 2030 Pharmaceuticals are therefore pivotal to global health policy. Outbreaks of pandemic diseases are intensifying international efforts to stream line pharmaceutical development. At the same time, a number of influential global health actors are working tirelessly to narrow the pharmaceutical gap between high- and low-income countries, with the aim of making many life-saving pharmaceuticals more accessible in low-income countries.
While President Khama deserves to be given credit on having launched TIVICAY or Dolutgravip, time is not now for him to celebrate. This primarily because the country is going through epidemiological trajectory of having to deal with infectious and non infectious diseases with increased morbidity and mortality rates. Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have now become a huge public health concern in Botswana. A closer look at our health system clearly demonstrates that we lack systems for an organized and comprehensive response to NCDs. Lack of NCD national policy, strategies, treatment guidelines and surveillance and monitoring systems are features of health systems in many developing countries.
Successfully responding to the problem requires a number of actions by the Khama administration includes developing context-appropriate chronic care models and programs and standardization of patient and program monitoring tools. Since HIV care and treatment program is the only large-scale chronic care program in the country, explore the M&E tools being used in the program and analyzed how these tools might be adapted to support NCD services in the country. Given the similarity between HIV care and treatment and NCD services and the huge investment already made to implement standardized tools for HIV care and treatment program, adaptation and use of HIV patient and program monitoring tools for NCD services can improve NCD response in Botswana through structuring services, standardizing patient care and treatment, supporting evidence-based planning and providing information on effectiveness of interventions.
May I request you give the man standing ovation and clap your hands as you finish reading this piece and say “ Well done “ Tshetlha ya Dikgwa”, Well done Mr President.
*Thabo Lucas Seleke is a researcher in Health Policy& Health Systems strengthening
