12/06/2025
๐๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐
Following the successful launch of the CHAMPS initiative in March 2025, Botswana convened its second ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ฝ ๐ช๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐ (๐ช๐ฏ๐จ๐ด๐ท๐บ) meeting on June 12, 2025, at the Presidentโs Hotel in Gaborone. The session brought together key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, Bummhi, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), healthcare professionals, and district oncology teams to review progress, share updates and plan for the next steps toward integrating cancer care into existing HIV programs.
The CHAMPS initiative, launched in response to the high burden of HIV-related cancers in Botswana, continues to integrate HIV and cancer care. With over half of cancer cases occurring among people living with HIV (PLWH), the program seeks to harness the power of trained navigators to bridge gaps in cancer awareness, early detection, and linkage to care within HIV services.
In her opening overview, Dr. Lillian Okui highlighted the strides made since the March meeting and presented preliminary findings from ongoing assessments. One key development she shared is that CHAMPS peer support activities will be piloted at Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone and Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in FrancistownโBotswanaโs two main referral hospitals. These facilities will serve as anchor sites for implementing navigator-led cancer-HIV integration model.
While sharing insights from the CHAMPS study, Dr. Lillian Okui noted that the majority of participants are women. This observation sparked discussions among stakeholders about the need to develop targeted strategies that encourage greater participation from men in cancer screening and support services within HIV programs. Dr. Okui further highlighted that participants identified several key risk factors for cancer, including smoking, poor diet, family history, and HIV statusโwith smoking emerging as the most frequently mentioned risk factor among male participants
The meeting not only reviewed the progress of the CHAMPS initiative but also served as a platform for participants to examine preliminary results and collaboratively develop recommendations and targeted interventions. These will guide the next phase of implementation and ensure the program addresses identified gaps effectively, paving the way for stronger integration of cancer and HIV care across the country.
