Botswana

The SWHAP was officially launched in Botswana on 23 October 2007. Currently seven companies, employing over 310 workers, are active in the Programme, namely ABB, Atlas Copco, Eltel, Ericsson, Sanitas, Scania and Volvo.

The programme is still in its initial phase, but all the companies have completed the first step of the Programme. They have completed joint management/board sensitization sessions in March 2008; most of them have completed HIV/AIDS awareness sessions for all staff; and more than half of them have trained a workplace steering committee. Moreover, all companies have developed and established a workplace HIV/AIDS policy. Most of the companies also routinely offer VCT to staff. This lays a solid foundation for the companies to start plan what kind of programmes and interventions they could undertake in the future. Such programmes will be planned jointly by the management and the workers.

Already after a few months, the companies the SWHAP works with in Botswana are showing encouraging results. And there are good reasons to believe that they will continue to do well.

For more information contact Botswana Country Coordinator Ms Edith Maziofa