Lawrence Ookeditse
12 September 2008
Building of institutions, structures and leadership are an important part of the equation of mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS.
This is the message that was a delivered by the National Coordinator of the National Aids Coordinating Agency (NACA), Christopher Molomo, at the ongoing Champions for an AIDS-Free Generation inaugural meeting at the Gaborone International Convention Centre.
Molomo was presenting before the audience that included former Presidents of Zambia and Botswana, Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Festus Mogae. Molomo gave an example of the structures that Botswana setup in an efforts to combat the scourge. He said we started in the mid -1980 to 90s 'when we setup structures to deal with the pandemic'.
Molomo said Botswana has adopted the principle of the 'three ones' in coordinating HIV/AIDS activities. "We follow the 'three ones' principle, which is having one agreed HIV/AIDS action framework, one national AIDS authority and one agreed country level monitoring and evaluation system". This, he said, helps in coordinating responses, monitoring and evaluating efforts geared towards the HIV/AIDS scourge.
Said Molomo: "We have the National AIDS Council, being the highest authority for AIDS. They are charged with monitoring the national response toward the achievement of objectives". Molomo said it is important to have decentralised structures in combating HIV/AIDS in the district councils as well as having village level committees. All these, have to report to some authority, which in our case is the Ministry of Local Government".
One of the major institutional role players, Molomo said, is parliament as it is a legislative body. It is important for the AIDS cause to be championed as well through parliament. "Parliament is important at the central level. In Botswana we have the Parliamentary Sub-committee on AIDS. It ensures that AIDS matters are brought to the attention of the business of parliament and receive advocacy," Molomo said.
He noted that the leadership imperative is also an important part of the equation as without a willing leadership to champion the cause it is highly unlikely to bear fruit.
"Leadership is supposed to give accountability and direction, " Molomo said.
The retreat will continue today at the GICC. The Champions for an AIDS-Free Generation have among them Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Festus Mogae, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Joachim Chissano, former President of Mozambique. It is supported by a number of international organizations, among them the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organisation, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and UNAIDS.
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