On arriving in Gabarone, we were immediately taken to the U.S. Embassy to meet Ambassador Joseph Huggins and the U.S. team in Botswana. During the briefing that followed we learned from the CDC and USAID representatives that the U.S. is the largest single donor to HIV/AIDS programs in Botswana. The CDC, Department of Defense, Peace Corps, USAID and the State Department all support key ongoing HIV/AIDS projects in Botswana. A great deal of U.S. support in Botswana comes from the private sector. The Harvard AIDS Institute, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Merck Company, Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation and the Baylor College of Medicine are engaged in research, prevention and treatment services.

Following the report from CDC and USAID, our delegation was briefed by Dr. Banu Khan, Coordinator of the National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA). Dr. Kahn presented an overview of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Botswana. In her slide presentation, Dr. Khan spoke of the devastating impact HIV/AIDS was having in Botswana. HIV affects every aspect of life in Botswana; it impacts the economy, demography and the households of the country. In response to this crisis, the government established the National AIDS Council with the responsibility for oversight of national programs. Dr. Khan is the director of both the National AIDS Council and the National AIDS Coordinating Agency. The NACA is responsible for working collaboratively with the government, the non-governmental agencies, and the private sector.