In collaboration with other major donors and Government to implement risk reduction strategies in border

crossing areas especially among truck drivers and surrounding villages (a type of Corridor of Hope project

in Northern Botswana, Chobe district

Result: policy initiatives that support care for children orphaned by AIDS advanced

In order to help create an enabling environment for the implementation of programs on children affected by

HIVAIDS in the country, the MLG has been providing funding to support provision of basic needs to children

affected by HIV/AIDS using the Short Term Plan of Action of 1999-2003. There is a need to develop a long-

term plan of action to address identified gaps in services for children affected by HIV/AIDS, especially to

focus support on their psychosocial needs. Finally, there is a need to strengthen the skills of health care

workers to better address psychosocial and health needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Inputs: Through a cooperative agreement with the USG, the Ministry will coordinate the development of a

National Long Term Plan of Action, using a consultant to be identified with technical support from the USG.

Activities/Outputs: Activities will include evaluation of the "Short Term Plan of Action (1999-2003)", and

development of a Long Term Plan with implementation guidelines. MLG will form reference groups made

up of key stakeholders to guide the implementation of this activity.

The ministry will also work with a consultant to develop training modules on psychosocial support (PSS).

Using these modules, as well as those on health needs developed by the MOH elsewhere in the

Emergency Plan, the MLG will facilitate training of trainers activities with 260 community caregivers

including teachers, social workers, community leaders, and service providers in FBOs/CBOs/NGOs who

work with children affected by HIV/AIDS. The training will be for a period of two weeks covering key

components of PSS such as the design and delivery of services responding to health, physical, mental,

educational, social and spiritual needs of children orphaned by AIDS including overall AIDS specific issues.

These issues are essential elements of meaningful and positive human development, as well as training

skills to equip participants to conduct ongoing training. Training courses will be in partnership with regional

and US based technical bodies working on PSS, and will focus on equipping participants with community

organizations to train them on integrating PSS needs of children orphaned by AIDS in their programs. The

identified organizations will strengthen services in their organizations to ensure that they provide

comprehensive care.

Funding will also be used to support the upgrading of the OVC registration system to identify additional

AIDS orphans and vulnerable children, so that services can be delivered. The ministry will identify an

information technology consultant to review and update registration tools. The MLG will coordinate and

chair a multi-sectoral team to work with the identified consultant in order to ensure that the tools used

capture all the disaggregated data needed for programming to provide holistic care to children affected by

HIV/AIDS.

Outcomes: The MLG will have a long term plan to facilitate the implementation of programs, which will

guide different stakeholders implementing programs for children affected by AIDS care in the country.

Sensitized community members will assist in making sure that children orphaned by AIDS are identified and

registered in order for them to access services. Trained government officers, and FBO/CBO/NGOs will act

as leaders in the implementation of PSS to ensure that comprehensive services to children orphaned and

made vulnerable by AIDS are provided.

Result: strengthened institutional capacity to deliver ARV services

Input: The USG will provide financial support to the MLG who will be responsible for identifying partner(s) to

conduct necessary procurement and/or renovation of existing space in order to securely dispense ARVs.

Activities/ Outputs: The recipient will ensure strengthening of ARV drug security in 13 identified local clinics

with the highest HIV prevalence rates. The recipient will also procure the following to ensure security and

safety of the drugs:

-Renovation/or expansion of the existing building, where necessary;

-Creation or expansion of dispensing window;

-Shelving space, and storage space for bulk items;

-Purchasing lockable secure cabinets; installing burglar bar and ceiling wire mesh; and,

-Reinforcing security doors, installing motion sensors as well as contracting security companies to provide

response services.

Outcome: These activities will ensure secure dispensing of ARV therapy at the clinic level.