New Health Care Center Opened for Children With AIDS in Botswana

Botswana President Festus Mogae officially opened the $9.7 million health care center for children with AIDS in the capital, Gaborone, on Friday. The center aims to increase support for children taking AIDS drugs. "The Children's Clinical Center for Excellence stands here as an icon of cooperation between Botswana, Baylor College of Medicine and Bristol-Myers Squibb's 'Secure the Future' program," Mogae said. Bristol-Myers donated $6 million, and $3.7 million was donated by Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. The center is expected to start treating patients on Thursday. The center will include a pediatric antiretroviral clinic and a research facility. There are plans to begin a research project involving 600 children in July or early August. The research will compare antiretroviral treatment strategies and will last three to four years.

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