African Nation of Botswana to Unveil Recent Progress in Fighting HIV/AIDS at Conference Monday.Business Editors GABORONE, Botswana--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 2003 Program experts from Botswana to share first-hand accounts of challenges and successes from groundbreaking efforts Experts working on the front lines to fight HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in one of the world's hardest hit places -- the African country of Botswana -- will report on recent progress in that country's national response to the epidemic during a satellite symposium Monday, Sept. 22 at the 13th International Conference on AIDS and STIs (ICASA) in Nairobi, Kenya. This event takes place the same day world nations gather in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS. The symposium is sponsored by the Government of Botswana and its public-private partnership Public-private partnership (PPP) describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies. These schemes are sometimes referred to as PPP or P3. , the African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP ACHAP Asociacion Chilena de Agencias de Publicidad ACHAP Association des Centres Hospitaliers et d'Accueil Privés du Québec ). Sharing their experiences are speakers including: -- Botswana's National AIDS Coordinator -- A physician who will discuss first-hand experience in treating patients at the largest single antiretroviral treatment site in the world, the Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone -- Behavioural change experts who will discuss how the use of private sector business tools is helping to promote positive behaviour change to reduce HIV/AIDS -- A woman living with HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. who was recently voted "Miss HIV Stigma-Free" in a pageant designed to help decrease the stigma of HIV in Botswana The speakers' remarks will be followed by a discussion moderated by Donald de Korte, M.D., Botswana-based Project Leader of ACHAP. ACHAP is a public-private partnership between the Government of Botswana, Merck & Co., Inc. /The Merck Company Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Melinda French Gates (born Melinda Ann French on August 15, 1964) is a former unit manager for several Microsoft products: Publisher, Microsoft Bob, Encarta, and Expedia. In 1994, she married Bill Gates, founder, chairman, and former chief software architect of Microsoft. Foundation that is working to help the government achieve its goal of an AIDS-free generation through a comprehensive approach focused on prevention, care, treatment and support. "Our aim at ICASA this week is to share lessons we're learning and the early successes we're achieving with others in Africa and other parts of the world who are determined to fight the epidemic," said Dr. de Korte. "We believe Botswana's recent progress may provide hope to other countries seriously impacted by HIV and AIDS." Participants in the symposium and their topics are as follows: Overview and National Strategic Framework - Banu Khan, M.D., M.P.H., National Coordinator, Public Health Specialist, National AIDS Coordinating Agency, Government of Botswana Dr. Khan's presentation will focus on Botswana's new National Strategic Framework and the ways in which it outlines the specific roles and responsibilities for each sector of society. During the presentation, Dr. Khan will discuss how Botswana succeeded in attracting a number of innovative public and private sector partners to reinforce the government's response. Segmentation for Behaviour Change Communication - Professor Sheila Tlou Sheila Dinotshe Tlou is a Motswana specialist in HIV/AIDS and women's health, and a nursing educator. In 2004 she became Botswana Minister of Health. Education and career Tlou studied at Teachers College, Columbia University, US. , Ph.D., University of Botswana The University of Botswana, or UB was established in 1982 as the first institution of Higher Education in Botswana. The university has a total of four campuses: two in the capital city Gaborone, one in Francistown, and another in Maun. , and Michael Cassell Michael Cassell is a [Ă[boxing]] writer, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He is also senior editor of the Philadelphia Boxing Report, and host of the ESPN radio show of the same name. Mike is known for his straight forward street journalism. , Ph.D., National AIDS Coordinating Agency and ACHAP The speakers will outline findings from a project that leverages the private sector skills of Botswana's public-private partnerships to address the HIV/AIDS public health crisis. In partnership with the Monitor Group, this project uses advanced techniques in market segmentation Market Segmentation A marketing term referring to the aggregating of prospective buyers into groups (segments) that have common needs and will respond similarly to a marketing action. to identify behaviour change communications that will be most effective in reaching targeted groups within society. The project was conducted on the campus of the University of Botswana. Teacher Capacity Building Project - Rose Mandevu, Project Officer, United Nations Development Project In collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and ACHAP, the Botswana Ministry of Education launched the Teacher Capacity Building Project in March 2003. As part of the program a weekly television program is broadcast live on Botswana Television using panel discussions, live call-ins and other tools to provide schoolteachers with the information they need to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the classroom. All schools have been equipped with a television, video player, satellite dish satellite dish n. A dish antenna used to receive and transmit signals relayed by satellite. satellite dish A parabolic antenna used to receive signals relayed by satellite. and a decoder in order to allow all teachers to participate in the program. Ms. Mandevu will outline the challenges and early successes of the Teacher Capacity Building Project. Botswana's Civil Society Response: The Small Grants Program - Beauty Mogosha, Director and Founder of the Nkaikela Youth Project In an effort to capitalize on the creativity of organizations across the country, a Small Grants Program was established in Botswana to identify innovative grassroots approaches to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The program, which is coordinated by the Botswana Network of AIDS Service Organization AIDS service organizations are community based that provide community support. While their primary function is to provide needed services to individuals with HIV, they also provide support services for their families and friends as well as conduct prevention efforts. with support from ACHAP, provides grants of up to BWP BWP In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Botswana Pula. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 50,000 (about $7,500 U.S. dollars) to support community-based activities. Ms. Mogosha, a grant recipient, will describe how her project helps former commercial sex workers gain career-building skills so that they can take control of their lives, both economically and socially. Lessons Learned from Masa - Botswana's National Antiretroviral (ARV ARV abbr. Bible American Revised Version ARV n abbr (= American Revised Version) → traducción americana de la Biblia ARV n abbr (= ) Programme -- Tendani Gaolathe, Co-director, Infectious Disease Infectious disease A pathological condition spread among biological species. Infectious diseases, although varied in their effects, are always associated with viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, multicellular parasites and aberrant proteins known as prions. Care Clinic, Princess Marina Hospital, Gaborone Since Botswana's national ARV programme called Masa was launched in January 2002 with the opening of the first treatment site at the Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, more than 11,000 people have enrolled in this groundbreaking programme. Dr. Gaolathe will present her experiences and lessons learned, focusing on capacity challenges, patient experiences and general observations from Africa's first national ARV programme. Profile of Kgalalelo Ntsepe -- Woman living with HIV recently voted Botswana's "Miss HIV Stigma-Free 2003" A beneficiary of the national ARV programme, Ms. Ntsepe will recount her experiences as a young woman living with HIV/AIDS in Botswana and discuss her current work to help break down the stigma of HIV/AIDS. Bedridden bed·rid·den or bed·rid adj. Confined to bed because of illness or infirmity. in 2001, Miss Ntsepe took an HIV test HIV test Various tests have been used to detect HIV and production of antibodies thereto; some HTs shown below are no longer actively used, but are listed for completeness and context. See HIV, Immunoblot. and enrolled in the Masa ARV programme. She was recently voted Botswana's Miss HIV Stigma-Free 2003 in a beauty pageant organized recently for HIV-positive women and their relatives as an example to other people -- to encourage them to get tested and to break the stigma of HIV. About ICASA The ICASA conference, to be held Sept. 21-26, will bring together international experts in HIV/AIDS programming under the theme of "access to care." It provides an opportunity for governments, international organizations civil society and People Living with HIV and AIDS to collectively share success and challenges experienced. About ACHAP ACHAP is a partnership between the Government of Botswana, Merck & Co., Inc./The Merck Company Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Tel: (+267) 3933842, Fax: (+267) 3933507. Postal Address: Private Bag X033, Gaborone, Botswana. Physical Address: Unit 1, Plot 115, Millennium Office Park, Gaborone; www.achap.org |
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