HIV and TB Overview: Botswana

At a glance

CDC supports HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services in Botswana through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). CDC also collaborates with partners to support tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control programs in Botswana.

Flag of the country of Botswana

Background

CDC partnered with Botswana in 1995, translating health research into methods to strengthen TB prevention and control. In 2000, this partnership expanded to include HIV prevention and treatment. It also included development of programs to maximize the quality, coverage, and impact of Botswana's HIV response.

With support from PEPFAR, CDC continues to collaborate with Botswana’s Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOH) in their response to HIV. This partnership includes services like HIV testing, antiretroviral treatment (ART), prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and voluntary medical male circumcision. CDC also works with Botswana on TB prevention and control programs.

Download CDC Botswana's Fact Sheet‎

Learn more about CDC's global HIV and TB work in Botswana.

HIV and TB key data

HIV/AIDS

Estimated HIV Prevalence (Ages 15-49)

Estimated AIDS Deaths (Age≥15)

Estimated Orphans Due to AIDS

Reported Number Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (Age≥15)

Tuberculosis (TB)

Estimated TB Incidence

TB Patients with Known HIV-Status who are HIV-Positive

TB Treatment Success Rate

Milestones

Surpassing UNAIDS treatment targets

Botswana demonstrates that HIV epidemic control is achievable, as measured by the 2030 UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.

Progress toward targets for ending HIV‎

In 2021, results from the Fifth Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS V) showed that Botswana has surpassed the UNAIDS targets at 95-98-98.


The country also became the first high-burden country to attain WHO "Silver Tier" certification.

Key activities and accomplishments

Addressing gaps in HIV services

CDC and partners will continue to use BAIS V data to prioritize service provision, especially among adolescents and young adults. This includes improving services for adolescents and children living with HIV and key populations. CDC and partners are also working to reduce HIV-related mortality, improve TB preventive therapy coverage, and cervical cancer screening. Additional efforts include implementing a 6-month multi-month dispensing of ART. CDC and partners also emphasize equity for all persons seeking HIV services regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, or geography.

CDC is also supporting Botswana to achieve WHO “Gold Tier” certification. This includes maintaining mother-to-child transmission of less than five percent and providing prenatal care and ART to over 95 percent of pregnant women. CDC and partners are working to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of syphilis and hepatitis through clinical mentorship and continuous quality improvement (CQI).

Building public health capacity

CDC collaborates with partners, including the Botswana MOH, to enhance the country's public health capacity. These efforts include:

  • Extending the Clinical Mentorship Program to all health districts.
  • Enhancing public health capacity to provide high-quality HIV services.
  • Expanding MOH research capacity through partnerships and training.
  • Maintaining CQI for targeted interventions in all health districts.
  • Strengthening public health infrastructure through FETP.
  • Supporting Botswana's Public Health Institute to sustain HIV control.

Enhancing disease surveillance

CDC-Botswana provides testing for recent HIV infection in the traditional HIV testing services program, linking results to case-based surveillance. Recency testing was expanded from 10 to over 200 sites, offering essential information about new HIV diagnoses, infections, and ongoing transmission.

Public health teams use experience gained from COVID-19 case control efforts to improve HIV case-finding. Rapid response teams use recency and case-based surveillance and geographic data to identify recent HIV infection clusters. Tailored HIV testing strategies and effective treatment and prevention interventions, including PrEP are also provided to populations at highest risk.

Strengthening health information systems

CDC continues to work with Botswana’s MOH to strengthen the country’s data and laboratory systems. Data support includes improving electronic medical records, system interoperability, and analysis capacity. Laboratory support includes quality diagnostics, emerging infection response capacity development, and assistance with accrediting testing and laboratory sites with international standards.

Resources

Support for CDC's global HIV and TB efforts‎

CDC's Division of Global HIV & TB activities are implemented as part of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); non-HIV related TB activities are supported by non-PEPFAR funding.

Our success is built on the backbone of science and partnerships.