Star Africa
12 September 2014
The Botswana government has not yet complied with a recent High Court ruling that ordered it to provide anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment to HIV-positive foreign prisoners, privately run Gabz Fm reported on Friday.According to the station, a detained Zambian national on Friday pleaded with Francistown magistrate Gaudupe Makgato to help him access ARV treatment as his medication had finished.
Makgato said there was nothing he could do to assist the accused person to get ARV treatment as he had no powers to force the Botswana authorities to implement the High Court order.
Last month the High Court ordered the government to provide ARVs to HIV-positive foreign prisoners at the state’s expense.
The government has been denying jailed foreigner access to ARVs, arguing it could not afford to dispense the life-saving drugs to all prisoners.
Botswana however provides the drugs to all its citizens.
http://en.starafrica.com/news/botswana-defies-court-order-on-arv-access-for-foreign-inmates.html
