National AIDS programme lauded by expert

The head of HIV/AIDS at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has hailed Botswana's efforts in tackling the pandemic, the BBC reported on Monday. Dr Helen Gayle said the country's efforts to tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS could serve as an example to the rest of the developing world. "Botswana has a relatively small population of about 1.5 million people. But it had one of the fastest growing HIV/AIDS epidemics, and some of the highest rates, in the world," Gayle said. With an estimated 40 percent of adults living with HIV/AIDS, Botswana is one of the few developing countries to offer antiretrovirals to everyone who needs them. Gayle was hopeful that there would be evidence of the HIV infection rates declining over the coming years.