HAIL TO THEE MAX

Former President Dr Festus Mogae has commended the founding member and Chairperson of Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership (BHP), Professor Max Essex for his commitment to rescue the African continent from HIV/AIDS pandemic. Professor Essex came to Botswana in 1996 when the country was hard hit by the HIV/AIDS disease. He partnered with the Ministry of Health to form the Botswana Harvard Aids Institute Partnership. He guided the country through Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), which led to a decline of the infection rate from 40 percent to the current one percent. Speaking during the farewell ceremony last Thursday, Dr Mogae highlighted that the African continent was seriously affected by HIV and many people were dying every single day. “Botswana was seriously affected by HIV/AIDS and I went around looking for help and Professor Essex and his collaborators from Harvard came to rescue our country,” he said. He said through Essex research many lives are saved and many Batswana have been trained in the field. “We now have our children and our own scientists and doctors in this field. “I want to thank Essex for his support to our country because what he has done to us has saved the whole world. I acknowledge all his team because our people have survived from HIV/AIDS,” said Mogae. According to the Global Information and Education on HIV and AIDS report, Botswana is still one of the countries most affected by HIV in the world, despite its provision of universal free antiretroviral treatment to all people living with HIV. Statistics recorded in 2017 indicates that 380 000 people are living with HIV. “At 21.9 percent Botswana has the third highest HIV prevalence in the world, after Lesotho and eSwatini. In 2005, prevalence stood at 25.4 percent suggesting some signs of improvement over the last decade,” reads the report. BHP official Rodger Shapiro said BHP has now become more than just the premier HIV research site in Africa as many young scientists have been and are being trained.“We have become part of the larger community in Botswana and we have made lifelong friendships with that community and with each other. “Substantial and long-lasting capacity has been built in doing high quality, ethical science that is dedicated to improving the health of the people of Botswana and elsewhere. All of this too was part of Professor Max’s plan,” said Shapiro.