VA Medical Center/Botswana

The role of PCI in combating HIV/Aids in Botswana

Project Concern International [PCI] is a nongovernmental organization that operates in different countries of the world including Botswana. PCI seeks to support communities in Botswana so that they can develop solutions to the socio-economic problems being faced by the people of a community (PCI 2016). The idea behind this move is that communities’ best understand the challenges they face and if empowered, members are in a position to generate ideas that would ultimately solve the problems in the most responsive way. These challenges include HIV/AIDS, gender inequality, and economic disparity. PCI is working with the government of Botswana with an aim of improving the quality of life and self-efficiency of citizens living under vulnerable conditions (PCI 2016). The youth and women have been identified to be exposed to multiple risks, and hence PCI prioritizes support to these groups. People who live with HIV/AIDS in Botswana are placed at risk of social and economic marginalization arising from the stigma they face. PCI has identified this area and has a department specifically dedicated to HIV/AIDS. The “building bridges program” which is under PCI is directly funded by USAID and through the program, PCI has funded 11 NGOs dealing with HIV/AIDS. These NGOs are working to provide medical and nutrition support to persons infected with HIV/AIDS as well as train them to acquire the ability to support themselves through their economic emancipation.

A fascinating bit is that PCI has made a step farther to reach out to people infected with HIV in the Botswana Defense Forces. It has achieved this through peer education in the army, advocating for voluntary male circumcision and voluntary testing and counseling. The HIV prevention program in the Botswana military started in 2010 and is funded by the United States department of defense HIV and AIDS prevention program (DHAPP). To date, PCI has trained one hundred and forty-two commanders who help in HIV education and information transmission in the military.

PCI comes out as an exemplary NGO to work with in combating HIV/AIDS in Botswana due to its wide scope. It has shown that the fight against the pandemic goes beyond supporting and educating women and the youth to reaching out to professionals like the military. Like other defense forces, the Botswana military is highly secretive and hence many NGOs have ignored the potential challenge of HIV/AIDS that is building within the force.

Problem statement

What is the efficiency of the measures employed in combating HIV/AIDS in the Botswana military?

HIV/AIDS was described by Kofi Anan in a report to the general assembly as the most formidable development challenge of our time. As much as HIV/AIDS is impacting heavily on humanity as a whole, members of the armed forces are placed at a vulnerable position as a result of their duties, (Fleshman 2001). Wars cause social and economic dislocation. The forceful displacement of people, destruction of property, collapse of health and education sector and compounded by the phenomenon of rape and prostitution which results from the desperation increases the spread of HIV/AIDS in the warring zone where the military is active, (Fleshman 2001). It is, therefore, clear that HIV/AIDS is a problem in the military, and hence a review of the measures employed to combat the pandemic in the force in Botswana is necessary.

References:

Fleshman M. (2001). AIDS prevention in the ranks: UN targets peacekeepers, combatants in the