“EQUALISE: END INEQUALITIES, END AIDS BY 2030”

In the spirit of World AIDS Day, under the theme “Equalise: End Inequalities, End AIDS by 2030” Botswana has vowed to ensure necessary measures to remove impediments to accessing service by populations at a greater risk of contracting HIV, and resolving issues of stigma and discrimination faced by people.

President Mokgweetsi Masisi who attended the World Aids Day commemoration in Hukuntsi mentioned that Botswana will be on the right track to ending AIDS as they have made ways of reducing it in the country by 2030.

“The final results of the fifth Botswana AIDS Impact Survey, commonly referred to as BAIS V, conducted in 2021, demonstrate that this country has realized a reduction in incidence, or new HIV infections, from 1.35% in 2013 to 0.2% in 2021.” President Masisi said.

He further explained that the Government remains committed to developing legal reforms aimed at removing all impediments to access HIV services by vulnerable populations. And pointed out to Batswana to use the acquired knowledge and experience from fighting HIV/AIDS, to tackle new pandemics and other emerging health challenges.

President Masisi urged stakeholders in Botswana’s AIDS response to go an extra mile to meet the target date of 2030 for ending AIDS.