Africa-Press – Botswana. The bilateral relationship between the US and Botswana has been beneficial as the latter enjoys quality health services and care, Assistant Minister of Health Mr Setlhomo Lelatisitswe has said.
Speaking during the US Ambassador’s visit to Scottish Livingstone Hospital in Molepolole on August 1, Mr Lelatisitswe said ‘the United States administration support in our health system straddles a number of areas but the crucial support has really been in the area of HIV/AIDS under PEPFAR”.
He also esteemed the hospital as one of the modern service providers in Kweneng region as it offered services like HIV testing including HIV self-testing which allows individuals to do assessment at the homes.
For his part, US Ambassador to Botswana Mr Howard Van Vranken commended Scottish Livingstone Hospital laboratory for the recent accreditation by the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Services (SADCAS) , which he said signified the ministry’s level of commitment towards providing quality health services.
“I particularly commend the Ministry of Health for their dedication, to continuously expand services to reach the unreached,” said Mr Van Vranken.
He further noted that the provision of HIV services to non-citizens was a great example that should be emulated by others .
Such services, he said, showed the ministry’s commitment to bridge equity gaps to expand key population services to public health facilities.
Mr Vranken also said it was not startling to recently see Botswana attaining the UNAID’s 95-95-95 goals that means by 2030, 95 per cent of people living with HIV will know their HIV status and 95 per cent of all people who are diagnosed with HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral treatment and 95 per cent of all people will be on treatment being virally suppressed.
He also said through PEPFAR, the US government has earmarked nearly US$60 million to support HIV prevention, care and treatment in Botswana for the next financial year.
Out of this, approximately US$18 million will be reserved to support care and treatment interventions in health facilities.
When giving welcome remarks Bakwena Deputy Kgosi, Kgosi Lawrence Mhaladi appreciated US government for their never ending support to Botswana.
He also said the relationship helped to deliver tangible outcomes.
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