IMF praises Botswana’s fight against AIDS

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) praised the government of Botswana on Friday for its efforts in fighting AIDS, while expressing concern over the economic and social impact of the disease on the country, Sapa-AFP has reported. The IMF said the African nation would have to face some difficult choices regarding its public spending priorities, adding that the mounting pressure on Botswana’s economy was due in large part to AIDS-related demands. But the IMF noted that the government of Botswana had made a marked effort in stemming the spread of the disease, thanks to stepped-up education and awareness programmes, and medical intervention to reduce the transmission from mother to child of HIV.