As part of the Global Fund Project ACHAP is implementing a project focusing on Female Sex Workers (FSWs) and their clients through a local NGO, Tebelopele Voluntary Counseling and Testing (TVCT), website: www.tebelopele.org.bw as a Sub recipient, with some activities directly implemented by ACHAP. The project seeks to contribute to the reduction of the HIV incidence among FSWs by strengthening access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services in eight (8) districts across Botswana; Greater Francistown, Tutume, Palapye, Okavango, Boteti, Serowe, Ngamiland and Kweneng West.

The project is in line with the national HIV/AIDS priority of scaling up HIV/AIDS response through targeted interventions for key populations. The FSW subgroup is a priority for Botswana’s overall national HIV prevention strategy. There is a plethora of issues that continue to drive these groups away from the mainstream health services, including HIV and TB programs due to self-stigma and institutionalized stigma for FSW.

The project, therefore, seeks to implement robust and targeted activities with a potential to influence a reduction in HIV incidence among the target cohort in general and the national HIV landscape more broadly until 2018.

The Objectives:

• To increase the percentage of FSW reached with HIV prevention programs – defined package of services (Participation in discussion sessions on: consistent correct condom use, HIV prevention messages, STIs: Received male/female condoms and lubricants: Received relevant IEC materials.
• increase the percentage of FSW that have received an HIV test during the reporting period and know their results.

The Key Activities implemented include:

• Weekly outreaches to targeted hot spots for FSW which include bars, sports tournaments, music festivals etc. using a Peer Approach model.
• Weekly group meetings – which is learning and sharing platform on issues of human rights, HIV prevention etc.
• HIV “moonlighting” services = HIV testing done at night using mobile testing van.
• Distribution of prevention commodities (male & female condoms and lubricants).
• Linkage to HIV Testing Services including screening for TB and Sexually Transmitted Infections.
• Referral to Legal, Psycho-social support or Psychological support services.
• Linkages to treatment, care and support.