Countries eye Botswana in HIV, Sexual Reproductive Health services
The successful implementation of integrated Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH), HIV and Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) services in Botswana has catapulted the country to a regional success story.
According to Head of Office at UNFPA Botswana, Innocent Modisaotsile, as a result, Botswana was invited to share with the African continent her experience at the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Durban in December 2021.
Modisaotsile said this week at the SRH, HIV, SGBV Symposium hosted by the ministry that a number of countries have even shown interest in coming to learn and benchmark. Botswana’s journey with SRH, HIV and SGBV integrated services started in 2017 with the inception of the “2gether 4 SRHR Programme.” The programme was initially scheduled to end in December 2021, but was extended to June 2022. The initiative was to create an enabling legal and policy environment for attainment of SRHR by all people, particularly adolescent girls, young people and key populations. The programme was meant to accelerate and scale up client-centred quality services for SRHR and SGBV services for all, and empower all people to exercise their SRH rights, adopt protective behaviour and access quality integration services. Modisaotsile said the programme has become a strategic intervention to maximise the outcomes of both HIV and SRH including, increased condom use, increased HIV testing and treatment, reduction in STI and increased uptake of contraceptive.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Grace Muzila said the SRHR Programme has had remarkable success in empowering communities across Botswana to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights.
Speaking at the symposium, Muzila said the programme has helped the health system to adopt an integrated health services delivery approach that will ultimately see more people having access to various health services. It has been funded by the Swedish Government in partnership with UN agencies including WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and USAIDS. Muzila explained that as the country still encounters challenges of HIV and GBV including sexual GBV, the programme has come in handy in ensuring that more people are educated about GBV and SGBV.
“Through the programme, many people across 10 participating District Health Management Teams were not only reached, educated about GBV and SRHR, but also empowered on how they can protect themselves and those around them,” she said. She added that the community was engaged and empowered. “Women and children were in particular, including teenage and adolescent girls, empowered on their SRH rights,” she said. Muzila said they have realised that integrated health approach to health service delivery, was the way to go. She said the plan going forward is to revitalise primary health care. She also reported that Covid-19 did not disrupt their vigour and dedication to have this programme succeed, but has instead helped them to come up with more innovative measures in which the ministry could continue providing health services to communities.