We are engaged in the war against HIV/AIDS which is destroying Botswana as well as Sub Saharan Africa.

Alcohol use and other Substance Abuse is identified as one of the major factors causing the continued spread of HIV/AIDS in Botswana.

The pandemic continues to spread in spite of 10+ years of Government spending and committment to educating about HIV/AIDS and in providing testing and treatment to the citizens of Botswana.

In Botswana, for example, life expectancy is only 39 years, while it would have been 72, if it were not for AIDS. This means that the majority of Batswana on average, will live 30 years less than they would have if not for the AIDS pandemic.

Botswana's infection rate of 37.3% of pregnant women extrapolates into an overall infection rate of approximately 30% and shows no sign of abating. The Central Statistics Office of the Botswana Government recently released statistics from a National Survey it conducted which, they say, indicates an HIV rate of 17.1%. Little is known about the methodology and ethical structure of the CSO Survey so, for the moment we will continue to report the Sero Prevalence rate as approximately 30%. The death rate in Botswana now exceeds the birth rate. Without significant nationwide behavioral change the Country of Botswana is on a long march to extinction.

We are Addiction and Recovery Specialists as well as HIV/AIDS and TB Researchers.

Alcohol use in Botswana is clearly linked, by its negative impact on behavior, to the continued spread of HIV/AIDS.

By reducing Alcohol use and abuse we hope to help slow the march to extinction to a crawl.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Botswana Alcohol/Aids Project (BAAP) has been created in recognition that Alcohol and Other Drug Use and Abuse in Botswana contributes significantly to the spread of Aids.


Being under the influence of Alcohol or Other mood/mind altering Drugs causes a person to lose the ability to exercise self-control, make good choices, and, most particularly, lessens the likelihood of practicing safe sex.


Alcohol use is also identified as a root cause of persons taking ARV and/or TB medications not following the prescribed treatment regimine.

Youth, HIV/AIDS and Alcohol

This father and son are returning from gathering firewood for heating and cooking. They will keep some and bundle and sell the rest. The collection and sale of firewood is a staple cash business. The volume of wood being used is beginning to concern environmentalists. A rural resident must now travel so far to get to the bush that individuals collecting wood is not practical. Use of 4x4s and donkey carts by collectors who bundle it and sell to roadside vendors who in turn sell to the public is the way this business operates.







The economy of Botswana rests solely upon the back of the diamond mines. Sale of huge numbers of industrial grade diamonds provides the Government with significant income but leaves the average citizen without access to income though the usual route - working for it. Unfortunately, the 2nd largest industry in number of people earning a living is the Alcohol Industry. That fact gives the Alcohol Industry great lobbying leverage annd helps them control legislation that they feel threatens the profits of the Alcohol Industry. There is little diversification or development of industry. Many citizen's are restricted from access to land because of belonging to the wrong tribe and are not able to earn a living from agriculture or cattle. 40% of the citizens live in poverty (less than $1.00 US per day). A high percentage are unemployed and many of those who are counted as 'employed' live in poverty because of extremely low wages and the fact that their "employment" is, in reality, day work. Many counted by the Government as 'employed' do not hold a recognized position but are forced to seek some 'piece work' on a day by day basis.

Many women - widowed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic or single with children, earn their living as street vendors. These vendors have set up shop at the Francistown Bus & Taxi Rank.

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