Botswana Christian Health & AIDS Intervention Programme (BOCHAIP) acknowledges adolescents and young persons as one of the target groups highly infected and affected by HIV and AIDS, and their uptake of services in HIV and AIDS programs is low. BOCHAIP has been sub-contracted by African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnership (ACHAP) from 2019 to date to implement this project aimed at increasing the uptake of HIV Prevention interventions targeting adolescents and Young Persons in five (5) health districts of Palapye, Selibe-Phikwe, Francistown, Tutume and Ngamiland in Botswana. The aim of the project is to make a meaningful contribution towards Botswana’s goal of reducing new HIV infections by 2030.
Through this project, BOCHAIP addresses main components of behavioural change interventions and quality service delivery to adolescents and young persons (AYP) aged 10 -24 years. This is in line with the Botswana’s Third HIV & AIDS National Strategic Framework (NSFIII) priority of preventing new HIV infections among most at risk populations especially youth aged between 10-24 years for both males and females. The aim is to bridge the gap in uptake of HIV prevention services in this target population and contribute towards the reduction of new HIV infections among adolescents and youths. This is achieved through provision of behaviour change communication messages to individuals aged 10 – 24 years. All those found to be at high risk of contracting HIV are referred for comprehensive HIV prevention packages.