PEPFAR Coordinator – Botswana

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) initiative is the largest commitment ever by a nation toward an international health initiative for a single disease. The Office of U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State, Global Health Security and Diplomacy Bureau is responsible for implementing PEPFAR.

To control and ultimately end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, collective efforts are needed to sustain existing gains while addressing the needs of targeted key and priority populations to stem the rise of new infections.

Led by Global Health Security and Diplomacy Bureau PEPFAR’s strategic vision, Reimagining PEPFAR’s Strategic Direction Fulfilling America’s Promise to end the HIV /AIDS Pandemic by 2030, PEPFAR aims to accelerate the path to respond and end the HIV/AIDS pandemic as a public health threat by 2030 by reaching the global 95-95-95 treatment targets across all ages, genders, and populations groups, reducing the number of new HIV infections through effective prevention and treatment, and sustainably strengthening public health systems.

The PEPFAR program in Botswana combines the talents of staff members and operational partners from the Department of State (DOS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Peace Corps (PC) to implement an integrated HIV/AIDS program.

These entities have come together to create a program that has supported activities in Botswana that allowed for rapid, unprecedented expansion of programs and services across HIV prevention, care, treatment, and health systems strengthening activities. In partnership with the Government of Botswana, the Global Fund, and other donors, Botswana has achieved and surpassed the UNAIDS 95-95-95 treatment goals.

The Botswana AIDS Impact Survey V (BAIS V) was the first population-based survey to confirm achievement of UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals in sub-Saharan Africa. The survey showed that 95 percent of people living with HIV in Botswana were aware of their status, 98 percent of those aware of their status were on antiretroviral therapy (also known as ART), and 98 percent of those on ART achieved viral load suppression.