More than once, we have in the past used this space to call on the nation to debate the sustainability of the government financed HIV/AIDS treatment programme.
Our call for such a debate started at a time when the Government of Botswana, like the rest of the world, had to contend with the worst economic crisis in recent times. That was in 2008.
While Botswana has been lucky in that many international donors have over the years generously contributed, it begs repeating time after time that 90 percent of the costs continue to be shouldered by Botswana Government.
With all the other government projects experiencing some kind of strain, just how long will Botswana be able to continue financing Anti Retroviral therapy?
We think it’s only a matter of time.
Just this past week, former President Festus Mogae and also the Minister of Health John Seakgosing hinted at the growing unsustainability of the programme. We think their warnings should be taken seriously. We agree with an observation by the two leaders that the most enduring way to minimize treatment related costs is to avoid new infections. Everytime there are new infections, costs go up.
We advise Government to intensify initiatives that are aimed at ensuring that we reach a stage when new infections are at zero ÔÇô when we shall see the coming in of an “HIV free generation.”
We also call on individuals to take responsibility for their lives ÔÇô by and large government has played whatever role there can be by way of providing information.
The rest can only be filled by individuals through behavioral changes.
Hopefully the debate we are calling for will also include the scale of human catastrophe that is likely to befall this country if all of a sudden the people who are used to ARVs have to immediately stop taking such drugs because they no longer are affordable to them.
Government announcement that treatment will henceforth start at CD 4 count of 350 and not 250 as has been the case over the years means that the number of people receiving treatment will experience what may easily become an exponential growth.
There are those who have been calling for a law that would make it mandatory for Government to provide treatment for people with HIV/AIDs.
While we do not support such a law, we also call on people holding such views to come out into the open.
We say so because it is becoming increasingly clear from many pronouncements that the Botswana Government is already preparing the ground for a day when an announcement will be made that the days of free ARVs have come to an end.
While there was no room for anyone to doubt Government commitment in its fight against HIV/AIDS during the days of President Festus Mogae, the same cannot be said today.
Whatever commitment is alive in government today is mainly a hangover from the many years of hard work achieved during Mogae’s time. Given the fact that our traditional partners and donors have their own economic problems it follows that whatever assistance they may want to render will be reduced. The situation can only be worse if they discern some fatigue or a lack of passion on our part.
Today Government has shifted its focus to such things like backyard gardens and housing appeals ÔÇô notwithstanding the fact that Botswana is not yet out of the woods in as far as winning the HIV/AIDs onslaught.
For their part we call on the authorities to engage the nation with respect and decorum over the sustainability of the ARV programme.
Shouting at the people by way of scaring and or threatening them usually brings backlashes.
