07 May 2014

Boravast communities have been challenged to use services that are brought to their villages geared towards improving their lives.

Kgalagadi District Council chairperson, Mr Frans Van Der Westerhuizen said at the Health Pitso hosted by the National Men Sector technical team in collaboration with Botswana Police Service, Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) fund, Gender Affairs and Tebelopele in Bokspits recently.

The event themed, Banana le Borre, Ditagi di re Isa Kae was aimed at reaching out to the youth and men as they are believed to be vulnerable to alcohol and drug abuse.

He said Pitso came at the right time when alcohol and drug abuse has taken charge of many people’s lives especially the youth and men in the Boravast catchment area.

Cllr Westerhuizen urged the community to use services such as HIV counseling and testing, screening of health conditions such as blood sugar, blood pressure, lessons and demonstrations on condom, violence and multiple concurrent partnerships.

He further said the youth as tomorrow’s leaders, should take the messages as a wake-up call for them to design a better and safe future for themselves while men should protect and support their families.

Cllr Westerhuizen said the Boravast community should value their lives, get out of fear, get invloved and support each other.

For his part, alcohol and drug abuse Ambassador, Mr Gert Witboi from Special Support Group (SSG) said he believes behavioral change takes a great deal of individual creating goals of achieving a healthy body.

Mr Witboi, who is the SSG’s reigning king and hails from Bokspits said he was concerned by the way the youth and men in his community have chosen to make a lifestyle out of alcohol and drugs.

He said the government continues to spend money to fight alcohol and drug abuse and that move slows down infrastructural developments.

 Communities, he said, are affected by intergenerational sex, multiple and concurrent partnerships, low uptake in safe male circumcision, gender based inequalities, inconsistence use of condoms, stigma and discrimination because of alcohol abuse.

“Alcohol and drug abuse exposes the youth and men to dangers of practising unsafe sex, sexual abuse, rape, incest, defilement and unplanned pregnancies amongst others.

All these behaviours further expose them to acquiring sexually transmitted infections including HIV,” said Mr Witboi.

He said it goes without saying that “alcohol and drugs destroys lives of many, and that it is everyone’s responsibility to take part in the fight to save lives.”

Villages that make up Boravast are Bokspits, Rapplespan, Vaalhoek and Struizendam in Kgalagadi South. Ends