Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Associated Press - Monday December 11, 2000
Ravi Nessman, Associated Press Writer
The gesture was a potent one in a nation where AIDS infection brings shame and social ostracism, and acknowledging infection is taboo.
Mayoress Molefi-Mochangana, one of Botswana's most celebrated singers, told Albright and a small group of women meeting inside a prenatal clinic that she learned of her infection from a recent HIV test and she urged other women to find out whether they have the deadly virus.
"I'm living a happier life, and working and still a musician," said Molefi-Mochangana, a traditional singer who records with her brother as Stiger & Sister.
In a later speech, Albright praised Molefi-Mochangana's bravery in confronting the stigma against the disease.
"She is a wonderful example of what we can accomplish when we confront life's most daunting challenges with courage," Albright said.
There are few challenges more daunting than AIDS in Botswana, where the United Nations estimates that more than one-third of adults are infected.
Of the 62,000 babies born every year, 8,700 are infected with the disease, according to Health Minister Joy Phumaphi.
The government provides a rigorous course of AZT for HIV-infected pregnant women to prevent them from transmitting the virus to their babies during childbirth and gives them baby formula to protect the child from the mother's infected breast milk.
But in the country's small villages, women seen with formula are immediately suspected of being infected and ostracized. The stigma against HIV is so overwhelming that many pregnant women are simply too frightened to take advantage of government programs.
"The rate of mother-to-child transmission in Botswana continues to grow, particularly in rural areas, where women are not able to benefit as much from public education," Phumaphi told guests at a ceremony outside the maternity clinic, one of the busiest in the country.
On Monday, Albright announced a U.S. government donation of 200 trailers to be used as HIV counseling centers across the vast, sparsely populated country. The donation includes 200 televisions and video recorders to play a new video to teach pregnant woman how to prevent transmitting the virus to their children. Molefi-Mochangana's band recorded the video soundtrack.
"As a mother and a grandmother, I must say I feel a special love and a friendship with all of you, because I can understand how difficult this all is," Albright said in a speech outside the clinic.
"There is nothing more personal than having a child and nothing that provides you more pleasure and love, and yet you have to go through what is clearly a very difficult and important moment in deciding to be tested in order to save the life of that child and learn something about yourself. So my heart goes out to you."
Inside the clinic, Albright sat with a group of women beneath posters urging testing.
"Make a new start today. Know your status," one poster read.
A counselor named Beatrice tried to coax a group of pregnant women to take an HIV test.
"If you don't take it, know that you and your child are not safe at all," she said.
But many of the women said they feared having to tell their families they were infected.
Albright's visit to Africa is part of what could be her last big trip as secretary of state. In her visits to South Africa, Mauritius in Botswana, she has worked to highlight three African democracies with strong economies. But she has also cast attention to the devastating AIDS pandemic raging across the continent.
Albright is scheduled to fly Tuesday to Algeria to witness the signing of a peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea. She then plans to travel to Europe.
After visiting the prenatal center, Albright presented $1.6 million to the University of Botswana to support projects in environmental science, women in science, research and development and technology training.
"This is my natural setting as a former professor and probably a future one," Albright joked as she announced the U.S. government donation.
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