Botswana: New Study Links Alcohol to the Spread of HIV
By, The Voice (Francistown), November 1, 2006
A study by Population Services International (PSI) has revealed that the spread of HIV in Botswana is primarily fuelled by risky sexual behaviour and growing alcohol and substance abuse.
The PSI project, which is among those supported by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), was presented to the recently sworn in Chief Ambassador for the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Dr Mark Dybul during his recent visit to Gaborone to tour programmes and partnership supported by PEPFAR.
The Emergency Plan is a five- year, $15 billion global initiative by the US government to combat HIV/AIDS in over 120 countries around the world.
In Botswana, funding for fiscal year 2006 was approximately $54 million.
PSI which implements an intervention project on HIV-Alcohol, says that the study has revealed that while alcohol and substance abuse do not play a direct role in HIV transmission, they are both associated with high risk sexual behaviour due to reduced inhibitions and diminished risk perceptions.
PSI's intervention, which is a significant behaviour change communication programme, intends to increase adoption of safer sexual behaviour and address key mediating factors to infection.
Besides the AIDS-Alcohol project, PSI implements two HIV Prevention interventions with the Emergency Plan.
These projects are on promoting adoption of fidelity and partner reduction among sexually active adults of ages 15-34 years in Lobatse and to promote safe sex practices among the Botswana Defence Force young soldiers.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Dybul was in Francistown on Monday to witness the rollout of a new national programme in Botswana that brings hope for HIV exposed infants.
Ambassador Dybul and a delegation comprising of the Minister of Health and Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID visited the Institute of Health Science where health care workers were being trained in Early Infant Diagnosis (EID).
The Early Infant HIV testing programme, which is sponsored by PEPFAR, is being introduced this month within the Ministry of Health's Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission prevention with a goal to get more HIV positive babies on treatment before they become ill.
A statement from BOTUSA has said that knowing the HIV status of an infant through EID is important as it initiates early initiation of ARV therapy and other care for HIV infected infants.
A study by Population Services International (PSI) has revealed that the spread of HIV in Botswana is primarily fuelled by risky sexual behaviour and growing alcohol and substance abuse.
The PSI project, which is among those supported by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), was presented to the recently sworn in Chief Ambassador for the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Dr Mark Dybul during his recent visit to Gaborone to tour programmes and partnership supported by PEPFAR.
The Emergency Plan is a five- year, $15 billion global initiative by the US government to combat HIV/AIDS in over 120 countries around the world.
In Botswana, funding for fiscal year 2006 was approximately $54 million.
PSI which implements an intervention project on HIV-Alcohol, says that the study has revealed that while alcohol and substance abuse do not play a direct role in HIV transmission, they are both associated with high risk sexual behaviour due to reduced inhibitions and diminished risk perceptions.
PSI's intervention, which is a significant behaviour change communication programme, intends to increase adoption of safer sexual behaviour and address key mediating factors to infection.
Besides the AIDS-Alcohol project, PSI implements two HIV Prevention interventions with the Emergency Plan.
These projects are on promoting adoption of fidelity and partner reduction among sexually active adults of ages 15-34 years in Lobatse and to promote safe sex practices among the Botswana Defence Force young soldiers.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Dybul was in Francistown on Monday to witness the rollout of a new national programme in Botswana that brings hope for HIV exposed infants.
Ambassador Dybul and a delegation comprising of the Minister of Health and Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID visited the Institute of Health Science where health care workers were being trained in Early Infant Diagnosis (EID).
The Early Infant HIV testing programme, which is sponsored by PEPFAR, is being introduced this month within the Ministry of Health's Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission prevention with a goal to get more HIV positive babies on treatment before they become ill.
A statement from BOTUSA has said that knowing the HIV status of an infant through EID is important as it initiates early initiation of ARV therapy and other care for HIV infected infants.
posted by AIDS-Care-Watch at 4:35 pm
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