Ministry of Health assures the public regarding suspended foreign aid
Botswana is not spared from the new information indicating that the US Government has suspended foreign aid, with immediate effect.
PR at the Ministry of Health, Dr Christopher Nyanga told Sun Health that the impact on the health sector of this country will definitely be felt. Many local US funded Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) implementing various health programs, have already indicated that they have been asked to suspend their operations with immediate effect. The suspension of the aid if made permanent, will indeed affect progress in the health sector, especially in the area of HIV/AIDS.
"Like many countries across the world, Botswana has been fortunate to receive generous aid from the Government of the United States of America for many decades. In the health sector, this aid comprised funding for direct service delivery and technical support, which has over the years been instrumental to the growth of the health sector of this country, "said Dr Nyanga. He emphasized that, through the support from US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US has been part and parcel of the Botswana health story. Since the introduction of PEPFAR in 2003. He said that the health sector has cumulatively benefited support amounting to more than P1 billion.
"The US support has been instrumental in helping Botswana to be one of the first countries in the world to reach and exceed the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets well ahead of time. As a result, many people living with HIV/AIDS in Botswana are able to live long," he said.
Although the case is as it is, Dr Nyanga said that, the Ministry assures Batswana that this development does not affect the availability of Antiretroviral (ARV) medication, because that is directly procured by the Botswana Government.
He clarified that, as a way forward, the Ministry will engage all stakeholders including the US Embassy in Botswana, to dialogue on how the affected services can be continued.
PR at the Ministry of Health, Dr Christopher Nyanga told Sun Health that the impact on the health sector of this country will definitely be felt. Many local US funded Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) implementing various health programs, have already indicated that they have been asked to suspend their operations with immediate effect. The suspension of the aid if made permanent, will indeed affect progress in the health sector, especially in the area of HIV/AIDS.
"Like many countries across the world, Botswana has been fortunate to receive generous aid from the Government of the United States of America for many decades. In the health sector, this aid comprised funding for direct service delivery and technical support, which has over the years been instrumental to the growth of the health sector of this country, "said Dr Nyanga. He emphasized that, through the support from US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US has been part and parcel of the Botswana health story. Since the introduction of PEPFAR in 2003. He said that the health sector has cumulatively benefited support amounting to more than P1 billion.
"The US support has been instrumental in helping Botswana to be one of the first countries in the world to reach and exceed the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets well ahead of time. As a result, many people living with HIV/AIDS in Botswana are able to live long," he said.
Although the case is as it is, Dr Nyanga said that, the Ministry assures Batswana that this development does not affect the availability of Antiretroviral (ARV) medication, because that is directly procured by the Botswana Government.
He clarified that, as a way forward, the Ministry will engage all stakeholders including the US Embassy in Botswana, to dialogue on how the affected services can be continued.
