The government of Botswana has revised the Anti-Retroviral Therapy guidelines in order to continue improving the quality of life of people living with HIV infection as per the World Health Organization recommendations.

With effect from April 2012, all HIV positive adults with a CD4 count of 350 or less will begin life-long HAART compared to the 250 less previously.

According to the new guidelines, all infants and children aged two years and younger will be initiated on treatment while children between two and five years with a CD4 count of 750 or less will begin the life-long treatment. The guideline revisions will also result in improved ART regimens where all adults will take one pill a day and children will get Fixed Dose Combinations instead of syrup.

All pregnant HIV-infected women regardless of CD4 count will receive Anti-Retroviral Therapy and those with CD4 count of 350 or less will remain on the life-long Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment (HAART).

As at December 2011, 178 684 patients are on HAART while an estimated 185 963 are estimated to be in need of treatment. With the total HIV infections estimated at between 300 000 and 350 000 in Botswana, the new guidelines are expected to add at least 22 000 patients annually until 2015, requiring an additional US$175-million from 2012 – 2016. The change is expected to avert 7, 400 deaths and 12 700 new HIV infections.