The National AIDS Coordinating Agency, its stakeholders and development partners this morning (Monday 17 August) held a consensus building meeting to review her progress on universal access to HIV and AIDS services.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the draft Universal Access Report of 2010 documenting Botswana’s progress towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, orphan & vulnerable children Care and support services.

Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy National Coordinator of NACA, Mr Golekanye Setume said despite the success Botswana has achieved progress in turning the tide against the epidemic, there are still challenges that needs to be addressed to ensure that all those in need of HIV and AIDS services get quality services efficiently.

He said although Botswana has done well in tracking the AIDS epidemic and monitoring key indicators through studies such as the Botswana AIDS Impact Survey, the quarterly National AIDS Council Reports and the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, there is no qualitative supporting documentation which clearly spells out what her challenges in reaching universal access. 

Mr Setume said the report will also contribute to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, in particular, goal 6 that seeks to halt and reverse the spread by HIV by 2015, adding that the report will outline a roadmap on how to address challenges identified in order to fully achieve universal access to HIV and AIDS services.

Botswana is amongst the countries that made a commitment at the United Nations General Assembly to dramatically scale-up the AIDS response in recognition of the remarkable achievements its has made in providing HIV and AIDS services, especially ARV, PMTCT, Voluntary Counseling & Testing and Routine HIV testing.