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POPULATION: 1,990,876
ACTIVE IN: The Central, Kgatleng, Kweneng, North East, South East and Southern Districts
PROGRAMS: HIV/AIDS, Orphans and Vulnerable Children
A CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Botswana has the second highest HIV prevalence rate in the world, where nearly a quarter of the adult population is infected with the virus. The epidemic is taking a toll on the country’s ability to respond effectively to the growing and complicated needs of the affected population. Additionally, traditional “safety nets” such as extended family units are becoming overwhelmed as families are being pushed into poverty through the costs of HIV/AIDS medical care, loss of income, and funeral expenses. The economic output of Botswana has also been hard hit by the loss of its work force.
PCI WAS ABLE TO REACH 1,830 ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN JUST SIX MONTHS WITH SERVICES THAT INCLUDED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, AND FOOD AND NUTRITION SUPPORT. | OVERVIEW
Project Concern International’s (PCI) work in Botswana is improving the quality of life for people infected with, or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. PCI programs are helping people by providing better access to quality health services and ensuring children who are orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS have access to food and education. By creating effective partnerships and strengthening the links between government ministries, community-based organizations, health care providers, and the communities themselves, PCI programs are bringing difficult issues into the open and instilling a spirit of self-empowerment among community members.
HIV/AIDS
To address the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS, PCI’s Building Bridges program is helping transform and empower communities to care for those most affected by the epidemic. Through Building Bridges, local NGOs are receiving funding, training, and technical assistance to help them provide comprehensive support to adults and children living with HIV and their family members. PCI is raising awareness about the importance of getting tested for HIV and helping people access available support services such as Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) early on to ensure successful outcomes.
PCI assists people on ART form self-help groups to support each other with treatment adherence, healthy living, and coping with one’s HIV positive status. People with HIV and their families also receive palliative care services - services that help ease the burden of illness on a patient or family. This includes physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and livelihood support delivered by NGO staff and volunteers in home-based settings as well as at health care facilities.
To ensure coordination among the different service providers who work with people living with HIV, PCI is strengthening referral partnerships among government health care facilities, social services, community- and faith-based organizations, traditional leaders, and schools.
ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN
In addition, PCI assists 12 local grassroots organizations deliver services to children and families. One of these partners is the Botswana Retired Nurses Association (BORNUS). With PCI support, BORNUS runs a community relief day care centre that provides pre-school education for orphans and vulnerable children. At the centre and through home visits, children and their families receive education, psychosocial counseling, nutrition support and other services. After-school Kids Club activities also help orphans and vulnerable children build their self-esteem and life skills. Families are assisted to establish backyard vegetable gardens to improve their health and nutrition and receive food rations from the centre’s own garden.
Through these interventions, PCI aims to assist in the transition that many HIV-infected people can experience, from chronic illness to long-term wellness, and the need to resume healthy, productive lives.
Download PCI/Botswana Country Fact Sheet (PDF)
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