Stepping in to inspire hope

Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA) work in a country where over a third of the population is infected with HIV/AIDS, and where
there is a severe shortage of skilled health personnel.

The people of Botswana look to Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA) to help them meet their sexual and reproductive health needs.

Formed in 1988 to respond to Botswana’s family planning challenges, BOFWA has worked hard to fill a gap left by the national health system to
meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of the poorest and most marginalized
people.

We run programmes targeting:

• young people
• sex workers
• orphans
• people with speech and hearing problems
• internally displaced persons

Services provided include:

• family planning
• infertility management
• maternity services
• Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT)
• antenatal care
• diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections

Outreach programmes for young people in and out of school, community leaders and politicians, the physically disabled, people living with HIV/AIDS,
sex workers and bar attendants are carried out by BOFWA staff and peer educators.

Community mobilizers and peer educators, including staff members that have been
seconded by the Government of Botswana, are trained by BOFWA on various sexual and
reproductive health issues and high quality service delivery.

We have secured grants from the government to purchase commodities and conduct
training.

The Botswana Family Welfare Association has found that collaboration with the police and hospitals has allowed our clients to access prompt, high quality and confidential abortion services.

While BOFWA is proud of its achievements, unmet need for sexual and reproductive
health information and services in Botswana is substantial: there is a high teenage
pregnancy rate, and there is always more work to be done.

Demands on BOFWA are increasing, but without increased investment we must be selective in the areas we can address effectively and the populations we can serve.

BOFWA hope to expand our services in years ahead.

BOFWA is committed to promoting and providing quality and cost effective SRH services, including HIV/AIDS prevention to enhance quality of life for young people and families.

Service delivery points
4 branches and 4 clinics

Members of governing body
7

Staff and volunteers
17 staff and 32 volunteers

Voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) sites
4

Youth centres
4

Members of Young Action Movement
72

Partnerships
Government: National Council on Population and
Development (NCPD), National AIDS Council (NAC)
NGOs: Botswana Christian Aids Intervention (BOCAIT)
Private Sector: Botswana Confederation of Commerce, industry and civil society: Barclays Bank of Botswana, Barlow world, Oil Industry
Sexual and Reproductive Health sub committee, Steering Committee on the implementation of the UN Secretary Generals Report on Women, Girls and HIV and AIDS
Donors: UNFPA, USAID, WHO, UNAIDS, IPPF, ACHAP, Government of Botswana
Networks: Botswana Council of NGOs, Botswana
National AIDS Service Organizations, Botswana Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, Botswana National Youth Council, Botswana Network of Ethics and Law for HIV/AIDS.