Events

Handover of Botshabelo ARV Satellite Clinic to Ministry of Local Government

ACHAP recently handed over the newly constructed Botshabelo ARV Satellite Clinic in Selibe Phikwe to the Ministry of Local Government (MLG). The clinic is part of ACHAPs support to the Government to roll out ARV services and decentralize dispensing of drugs and other ARV services to improve access to treatment thus taking services to the communities. Full story

World AIDS Day Media Workshop

The second edition of this ACHAP sponsored initiative was held on November 6th and 7th in Gaborone. In order to strengthen existing partnerships or develop new ones ACHAP joined forces with BOTUSA to provide financial and technical support for the 2007 edition. ACHAP committed P92 000 and BOTUSA P50 000 for the project. The main objective of this workshop was to share ideas that would stimulate the production of articles that will be part of an 8 page supplement to be published in selected Botswana media to commemorate World AIDS Day 2007 as well as to continue initiatives that enhance the quality of reporting about HIV/AIDS in Botswana. Full story

Annual Partner District Planning Conference- Palapye

The 2007 Partner district planning conference was held in Palapye. This year other development partners were invited to attend the conference in order to give input into the seven partner district plans, as well as to inform the participants on their (partners) areas of their support in some districts that are supported by ACHAP. Some of the development partners were, BOTUSA, UNAIDS, UNICEF and WHO. Other partners included NGOs, such as BOCAIP, BOFWA and Tebelopele who receive ACHAP funding. Full story

Journalists' tour of ACHAP Supported projects

Fifteen (15) reporters from print and broadcast media took part in an organised tour of ACHAP supported project in Palapye. The tour coincided with the ACHAP Annual Programme Conference that was held in Palapye. The journalist visited the Kediretswe ARV Satellite Clinic, met with lay counselors / PLWA Support Group and visited one of the three Tsholofelo – Hope Project drop-in centres targeting sex workers and truck drivers. They also interviewed participants at the planning conference. At least 5 newspapers published articles about the visit. Full story

Visit of Dr Yamada, President of Global Health Prog. Gates Foundation

Dr Tadataka Yamada, President of the Global Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation visited Botswana from 10th to 12th October, 2007. He met with President Festus Mogae and senior government officials, where they discussed ACHAP support to the key health programmes. Dr Yamada had the opportunity to visit the two partner districts of Francistown and Chobe to appreciate ACHAP’s support at the districts level. Full story

MSD/Tshepang Trust visit from SA

MSD South Africa in partnership with the Tshepang Trust recently visited Botswana to learn about the country’s HIV/AIDS treatment programmes and how they compare with the Tshepang Trust treatment approach. The Tshepang Trust is an HIV and AIDS Comprehensive Programme of the South African Medical Association (SAMA). The aim of the Trust is to establish public - private partnerships that would comprise of public health facilities working with general practitioners to alleviate the burden of treatment at the public ARV sites and secondly to address the capacity problems faced by the public sector medical facilities. Full story

Visit of Dr Nick Hellmann-Director HIV/AIDS and TB Program, Gates foundation

Dr Nick Hellmann, the Director for the HIV/AIDS & TB Program with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation visited Botswana from 13th to 17th August, 2007 on a familiarization trip to appreciate first hand ACHAP’s support to the implementation of Botswana’s national comprehensive HIV/AIDS Response. Dr Hellmann is responsible for research, program and policies related to HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis at the Foundation. Full story

Madikwe Forum Returns from Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington

Members of the Madikwe Forum, the main governance structure of the African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP) with the Government of Botswana just returned from a one week visit in Seattle, United States of America hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation one of the two funders of the partnership, the other one being the Merck & Co Inc/Merck Company Foundation. The Forum gives policy guidance to the partnership and addresses implementation issues which may arise when working with an entity as large and complex as government. Full story

HIV/AIDS Code of Conduct and Workplace Policy Project Kicks off

The African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnership (ACHAP) in conjunction with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana Chapter has embarked on a pilot project to craft HIV/AIDS code of conduct that will guide journalists in their reportage and help develop and adopt workplace policy for three media houses namely Mmegi, The Voice and Sunday Standard. Full story

Ramotswa IDCC officially opened

The Ramotswa Infectious Disease Care Clinic at the Bamalete Lutheran Hospital was officially opened on June 27th, 2007 by the Minister of Health Professor Sheila Tlou. ACHAP in collaboration with the Bamalete Lutheran Hospital contributed to the construction of the clinic, with ACHAP providing funding in the amount of P1 million of the estimated P3,4 million price tag for the facility. This IDCC will provide ARV services such as treatment, HIV testing, consultation in addition to storage and dispensary of ERV drugs. Full story

MD visits the US: Sharing the ACHAP experience

As part of a 10 day trip to the US the Managing Director of ACHAP attended the Global Health Council Conference in Washington, D.C. between May 31 and June 1st 2007. He was part of a panel during a special session of the conference titled “Why the Private Sector and Public Health Need Each Other in Africa”. Full story

Pledge 25 National Conference

ACHAP in collaboration with the Ministry of Health’s National Blood Transfusion Service organized a national Pledge 25 conference on 29th and 30th March to share information on blood donation and the blood situation in Botswana; to contribute towards a standard understanding of the Pledge 25 concept in Botswana; to share experiences on the implementation of the program; to address monitoring and evaluation issues about the program; and to address the coordination of the pledge 25 program. Full story

Handover of Resource Centres to Monarch and Gerald Communities in Francistown.

The managing Director of ACHAP Dr Themba L. Moeti was in Francistown on March 23rd to Handover Resource Renters to the communities of Gerald and Monarch in Francistown. ACHAP support to government is aligned to support four of the five key goals outlined in the National Strategic Framework (NSF) for HIV/AIDS 2003 – 2009;. Full story

Official Launch of the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) Clinical Services in Ghantsi.

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) clinical services were officially launched at the Ghanzi public clinic in March 2007. The clinic will provide services on STI management; HIV counseling and testing, education and counseling on matters of sexual reproductive health. Any young person seeking consultation on any other general minor ailments is also attended, to avoid stigma that could surround the use of the clinic. Full story

World AIDS day 2006 Commemoration

Tsabong village in the South-western part of Botswana was host to this year’s World AIDS Day commemoration. The December 1 event had the theme: “Stop AIDS, keep the promise.” These commemorations are global efforts to support, strengthen and connect campaigns that hold governments and stakeholders accountable for their promises on AIDS and HIV.
The Botswana government has recognized HIV and AIDS as a health and development problem and has come up with a multi-sectoral approach to respond to the epidemic and mitigate its impact. ACHAP had an informational booth at this event were they were able to inform the public about the work of ACHAP and distribute IEC material and condoms. Among dignitaries was Hon Prof Sheila Tlou, Minister of Health and Deputy Chairperson of National AIDS Council who gave the Key Note Address.

ACHAP hands-over Mabutsane ARV Satellite Clinic to the Ministry of Local Government.

The African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships recently handed over the Mabutsane ARV Clinic to the Ministry of Local Government. The construction of the clinic is in line with ACHAP’s commitment to improve access to Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) services in the country and to bring services closer to the people. The availability of the clinic will significantly reduce the long and costly trips to Jwaneng and other centres where Mabutsane Sub-District community has been accessing their ART services.
The services provided by the clinic will include among other things; laboratory tests for the basic chemistry and haematology that are necessary for the initiation of patients on ARVs, prescriptions and dispensing of ARVs, clinical consultation and support counseling and HIV/AIDS education.

ACHAP Annual Partner District Planning Workshop

ACHAP held its Annual Partner District Planning Workshop in Selibe Phikwe from 24th – 26th October 2006. Since 2005, ACHAP has provided financial and technical support to seven partner districts of; Mabutsane, Ngami, Serowe-Palapye, Francistown, Selibe Phikwe, Chobe and Ghanzi to scale up their HIV/AIDS district responses, in line with the goals and objectives of the National Strategic Framework. The purpose of the workshop was threefold; to assess progress on and document lessons learned during the implementation of the 2006/7 district plan; to refine the 2007/8 district plans by incorporating lessons learned and best practices from other districts and central stakeholders and to identify priority funding areas for ACHAP within each of the seven 2007/8 district plans. Planned activities funded must fall within ACHAP’s four focus areas of;

• HIV Prevention
• Support for the expansion of HIV counseling and testing capacities including the strengthening of post test services
• Continued support of the ARV program
• Support for advocacy, community mobilization and empowerment of PLWAs.

Handover of Mobile Health Services to ACHAP Partner Districts

The African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP) handed over 4 mobile clinics to the Ministry of Local Government (MLG) intended for the ACHAP-partner districts of Chobe, Ghantsi, Ngamiland and Serowe/Palapye on October 10th 2006. ACHAP’s Acting Managing Director, Mr. Leonard Manthe handed over the four vehicles to the Honourable Minister of Local Government, Mrs. Margaret N. Nasha.Read more...

NBA’S Africa Outreach Extends to Botswana

The US based National Basketball Association (NBA) through their global community and social responsibility initiative NBA Cares, in collaboration with the African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP) have extended their reach and impact in Africa by including a trip to Botswana from 10th to 12th September 2006.
Led by NBA’s great Dikembe Mutombo (Houston Rockets), Chris Duhon (Chicago Bulls) and former NBA player Jerome Williams ; the purpose of the visit was to continue NBA’s HIV/AIDS awareness and education efforts to encourage young people to live healthy, active and safe lifestyles.
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