GABARONE, October 2, 2009—Botswana’s efforts in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic received a welcome boost, thanks to an innovative US$50 million project that includes a “buy-down” design being implemented for the first time in Africa.
Botswana, one of the countries in the region most afflicted by HIV/AIDS, is facing an uphill challenge in combating the epidemic. An estimated 283,000 Batswana adults, many in their prime are suffering from the debilitating disease. The national adult prevalence rate is nearly 24 percent.
“The Government of Botswana is committed to intensifying the battle against HIV/AIDS,” said Hon. Baledzi Gaolathe, Botswana’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, at a project signing ceremony held in Gaborone. “The funds will help us to increase the coverage, efficiency and sustainability of our interventions.”
The project’s “buy down” design allows a donor, in this case the European Commission, to ‘buy’ the interest on the loan, essentially making it a no-cost transaction. Botswana’s status as a middle income country precludes it from receiving concessional financing from the World Bank, hence the need for a financing instrument specifically tailored to the country’s needs. The design is being looked at as a potential model to support development efforts in other middle-income countries. China benefited from a similar, anti-tuberculosis project.
“The World Bank applauds the Government of Botswana’s efforts in tackling this raging epidemic,” said Ruth Kagia, World Bank Country Director for Botswana, at the signing ceremony. “But we cannot afford to be complacent. Success in the battle against this insidious disease requires all hands to be on deck, suitably armed with financing and fundamental change of behavior to accomplish the job.”
Botswana has notched some impressive gains in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Beginning in 2002, it was the first African country to provide no-cost, antiretroviral therapy to all citizens. By June 2008, antiretroviral coverage had expanded to an estimated 93 percent of the population. These concerted efforts, together with introduction of a routine HIV testing policy, have successfully halved the number of AIDS-related deaths.
“We are delighted to strengthen the capacity of the Government of Botswana in fighting the disease,” said Ambassador Paul Malin, Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Botswana and Southern African Development Community. “We look forward to speedy implementation of the project, so that the benefits can touch the lives of common people who are suffering from the adverse effects of the disease.”
RSS