Botswana is a former British colony in Africa that gained independence in 1966. It has had one of the fastest growing economies on the continent due to being a major diamond producer. However, Botswana now has the second highest HIV/AIDS rate in the world at 24.1% of the population infected. The country's response to the epidemic has evolved in three stages from eliminating transmission through blood to expanding prevention, education, and treatment programs. Current efforts focus on targeting high-risk groups and improving access to antiretroviral therapy nationwide.