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Stigma hampers HIV/AIDS treatment plan

    JOHANNESBURG

    Botswana's efforts to provide antiretrovirals to people living with HIV/AIDS have been hampered by stigma, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported on Monday.

    According to recent official figures, only about 8,000 people have undergone testing for HIV at targeted health clinics where the government hopes to provide free drugs to more than 100,000 people.

    "The main challenge is that people are coming forward very late. It is a lot more resource-intensive to treat people that are sick, and the burden on health system is much more difficult to manage," drug programme manager, Ernst Darkoh, said.

    Botswana is the first country in Africa to commit to a widespread programme of providing HIV/AIDS drugs through its public health system.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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