Visit of Dr Nick Hellmann-Director HIV/AIDS 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.
While in Botswana, Dr Hellmann visited institutions, organisations and individuals engaged in the HIV and AIDS response as well as meeting
Government of Botswana officials. Among the institutions visited are the Botswana Harvard HIV Reference Laboratory, the Princess Marina
IDCC, the Kasane IDCC and the Kazungula Weighbridge Station Clinic and the Plateau Clinic under renovation to dispense ARVs all in Kasane;
in Francistown he met with the Mayor, visited the Nyangabwe ARV Laboratory, the Area W ARV satellite clinic and the Gerald Estate Resource
Centre.
In Gaborone he met the US Ambassador, the PEPFAR Coordinator and BOTUSA Director to learn about the US Government contribution to the
national HIV/AIDS response. Dr Hellmann also had the opportunity to meet with the Madikwe Forum members; a governance structure in the
ACHAP/Government of Botswana partnership to give policy guidance and address implementation bottlenecks that may impede progress in the
achievement of the National Strategic Framework Goals through ACHAP support.
