Since doctors diagnosed the first case of Aids in Botswana in 1985, the disease has spread through the population of 1,7 million at a staggering rate.
Today, 25% of adults aged 15 to 49 are infected with HIV. Life expectancy in this small sub-Saharan country has plunged from over 65 to about the age of 52.
The Merck Sharpe & Dohme (MSD) African Comprehensive HIV/Aids Partnerships was established in 2000 with assistance from the government of Botswana and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.The partnership was intended to support and enhance Botswana’s response to HIV/Aids through a comprehensive approach to prevention, care, treatment and support.
To date, the partnership has supported the development of laboratory capacity to test and monitor patient response to treatment. Information technology systems are being developed to track patient adherence.
A didactic training course gives all healthcare professionals in Botswana the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of HIV/Aids clinical care, while more than 3 200 healthcare workers have received hands-on, clinic-based training from international Aids experts through a clinical preceptorships programe.
Recent studies have shown that the rate of new infections appears to be declining. Between 2003 and 2005, the prevalence among 15 to 19-year-olds has declined by 22%, and the percentage of HIV-positive infants born to HIV-positive mothers from an estimated 40% at inception of the programme to about 6%.
Sam Nkalashe, corporate responsibility manager for MSD in South Africa, said: ‘Our commitment to health in Africa brought us to the Pan African Health Congress to interact with other players and concerned individuals and organisations to share ideas and move the agenda of a continent free of curable disease to meet the millennium goals.”
‘Merck & Co has long been involved in efforts to expand access to medicines, vaccines and quality healthcare in the developing world. Among other activities, we are active participants in programmes to help build local healthcare capacity in Africa and elsewhere around the world.
‘Based on the lessons that we learned in previous HIV/Aids initiatives, we have also set up public-private partnerships to mobilise communities against HIV/Aids, change their behaviours and reduce HIV-related stigma.”
MSD has developed a Blueprint for Business Action against HIV/Aids. This simple and user-friendly tool, designed by an editorial board composed of African HIV/Aids experts, provides guidelines for small and medium-sized companies to implement a comprehensive HIV/Aids workplace programme.