The United Nations AIDS programme faces the challenge of meeting three targets by 2030: That 95% of those living with HIV know their diagnosis; that 95% of those who know the diagnosis receive antiretroviral treatment; and that 95% of those receiving treatment have the virus at undetectable levels in the blood. This challenge, known as 95-95-95, has succeeded in overcoming Botswana: 95% of people with HIV know the diagnosis, 98% of them receive treatment, and 98% of the latter are at an undetectable level.
It has taken years to achieve this. In 2002, it was the first African country to offer free antiretrovirals to its citizens. In 2004, the HIV test was started for all people who went to health services. A programme for positive pregnant women and lactating women was established in 2013 to prevent mothers from transmitting to children. And in the latest plan (2018 to 2023), numerous new developments have been introduced, such as preventive treatment, autotesta and free treatment of foreigners.
To this end, more than EUR 100 million have been invested in recent years, 60% on the initiative of the Government, 30% on the United Nations programme and 10% on the Global Fund. The result can be seen in those who died of AIDS: In 2002 it was 21,000, in 2013 it was 5,800 and last year 4,600.