The Health Minister of Botswana, Edwin Dikoloti, announced on Thursday that Botswana has decided to start using long-acting antiretroviral injectables for HIV treatment.
Dikoloti made the announcement while delivering a keynote at the four-day annual HIV/TB Summit in Francistown, the second largest city in Botswana. He stated that the country has adopted Cabotegravir and Rilpivirine as part of its 2023 HIV Clinical Care Guidelines.
Dikoloti emphasized that this decision showcases Botswana’s dedication to improving the lives of its citizens and its commitment to staying at the forefront of medical advancements. He also mentioned that these medications have already been registered with the country’s medical regulatory authority.
The country’s central medical stores have initiated the procurement process for these injectables. However, Dikoloti cautioned that it may take some time for them to become available in the country due to their unavailability in the market.
Despite this temporary setback, Dikoloti expressed that this decision signifies a major shift in Botswana’s approach to providing effective, accessible, and patient-centric HIV care.
Additionally, Botswana had the distinction of being one of the first countries to achieve the 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets in 2021, making it the first high HIV burden country to be certified for Silver Tier for the “Path to Elimination” of vertical transmission of HIV.
