Distlerath LM, Khalil SA; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. WePeE6854.

Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, United States

Issues: Nowhere is the impact of the global HIV/AIDS epidemic more apparent than in the Republic of Botswana. The national HIV adult (aged 15-49) prevalence rate is about 38%... By 2010, life expectancy is projected to decline to 29 years and the number of orphans is expected to grow more than 200%... Botswana led the world in sustained economic performance from 1966-1996..., but HIV/AIDS threatens its socio-economic advances. Description: Merck & Co., Inc. spearheaded a public-private partnership to help confront Botswana's HIV/AIDS epidemic with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Government of Botswana, also known as the African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP). Merck and Gates each committed [dollar]50 million, with Merck also donating its two ARVs. The goal of ACHAP is to support the development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy covering prevention, care, treatment and support. With ACHAP support Botswana has progressed against HIV/AIDS: National Strategic Framework (2003 - 2009) completed; more than 16,000 patients enrolled in the government's ARV treatment program; more than 1,100 healthcare workers trained; HIV education program reaching more than 500 schools; increased capacity of community organizations to support PLWAs, orphans and families; applied marketing tools in behavior change communications; and providing training in project management, M&E and leadership. Lessons Learned: Addressing health care capacity issues - human, physical, and systems - is critical to an effective and sustainable comprehensive response. The private sector brings a distinct set of skills and resources that provide unique synergies with traditional public health responses in identifying innovative HIV/AIDS-related initiatives. Recommendations: Collectively, the learnings from Botswana's HIV/AIDS program, particularly through ACHAP support, should serve as a model and may help shape other HIV-related public-private partnerships and funding initiatives worldwide.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Adult
• Botswana
• Disease Outbreaks
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Organizations
• Prevalence
• Private Sector
• education

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0040549

UI: 102284765

From Meeting Abstracts