Madigele Commends HIV/AIDS Clinicians
Baboki Kayawe | Monday August 29, 2016 16:23
Under this strategy, all people with HIV will receive antiretroviral therapy regardless of their CD4 count or health condition. It is projected that more than 118,000 people will be save from being infected with HIV/AIDS, in addition to it preventing more than 54,000 HIV deaths by the year 2030.
Madigele was officiating at the 5th Botswana HIV Clinician Society conference this week, themed “Total Inclusion for Greater Impact”.
“This year’s conference theme is timely in following our launch of the Treat All strategy in June. Obviously implementing this strategy will not be without challenges,” he said
He added the conference provided an opportunity to discuss potential implementation barriers and mitigation strategies.
Already a proven leader in HIV/AIDS management and control, on June 3, Botswana once again blazed a new trail for the rest of the world to follow when launching this strategy.
Speaking at the launch in Oodi, President Ian Khama said it was yet another indication of Botswana’s commitment to the needs of her people, another major milestone recorded in addressing an epidemic that has had a debilitating effect on the health system and people of Botswana.
He reminded the gathering that Treat All comes in the wake of and complements other successful firsts such as PMTCT, routine testing and viral load monitoring as well as using optimised treatment regimens which have all propelled the country closer to achieving 90-90-90 targets.
This UNAIDS strategy sets targets for prevention, treatment and human rights known as the 90-90-90 targets-envisaging 90 percent of people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90 percent of all people living with HIV/AIDS will receive antiretroviral therapy and that 90 percent receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression by 2030.