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BOTSWANA: President defends AIDS testing

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

JOHANNESBURG, 14 May (PLUSNEWS) - Foreign criticism of routine HIV testing is hampering Botswana's efforts to treat people living with HIV/AIDS, according to Botswana President Festus Mogae.

Apart from making available a free anti-AIDS drug programme, in October 2003 the country announced an initiative that provides HIV tests as part of routine medical checkups in public and private clinics.

Although some in the US and Europe have lauded Mogae for supporting a national programme to provide free drugs, others have said the testing policy "smacks of forced testing and violates the public's human rights and right to privacy," the Washington Times reported.

Mogae responded by saying: "Because of the criticisms and apprehensions that were expressed, we have to prescribe an elaborate procedure for offering routine testing, so we are covering fewer people than we had hoped in order to accommodate the critics ... We are making progress, but slower than we had hoped."

[ENDS]

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