ACHAP implements a project focusing on Men who have sex with other men (MSM) and Transgender persons (TG) through the Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) (www.bonela.org) as a Sub recipient, with a few activities directly implemented by ACHAP. The project seeks to contribute to the reduction of the HIV incidence among MSM by strengthening access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services in 7 high HIV burden districts of Palapye, Francistown, Serowe, Selebi- Phikwe, Tutume, Boteti and Ngamiland.

The project is in line with the national HIV/AIDS priority of scaling up HIV/AIDS response through targeted interventions for key populations. The Method of Transmission (MOT) study in 2010, which determined distribution of new infections by mode of exposure among other variables concluded that Men who have sex with men and their partners will contribute 5.71% (5.41 among MSM and 0.30% among their partners) to the national prevalence.

The sub-group is, therefore, a priority for Botswana’s overall national HIV prevention strategy. There is a plethora of issues that continue to drive these groups away from the mainstream health services, including HIV and TB programs due to self-stigma and institutionalized stigma of TG and MSM.

The project, therefore, seeks to implement robust interventions involving the participation of MSM and MSM organisations as key partners in implementing targeted program with a potential to influence a reduction in HIV incidence among the target cohort in general and the national HIV landscape more broadly in the next 36 months.

The Objectives:

• To increase the percentage of MSM reached with HIV prevention programs - individual and/or smaller group level interventions.
• To increase the percentage of MSM that have received an HIV test during the reporting period and know their results.

Target Population: the project targets MSMs and TG aged 18-60 as follows:

The Key Activities implemented include:

• Weekly outreach in targeted hot spots for MSM which include bars, sports tournaments, music festivals etc.
• Weekly group meetings – which is learning and sharing platform on issues of human rights, HIV prevention, etc.
• Referral to HIV Testing and Counseling including screening for TB and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
• Referral to Legal, Psycho-social support or Psychological support services.
• Linkages to treatment , care and support.
• HIV “moonlighting” services; HIV testing done at night using mobile testing van.
• Distribution of prevention commodities (condoms and lubricants).