01 Jul 2014

The Month of Youth Against AIDS (MYAA) has been extended from March to further encourage behavior change amongst youth through interventions and communication.

The United States Youth for Healthy Lifestyle project coordinator, Mr David Lucky said this at the MYAA launch in Sepopa recently. Mr Lucky said government had designated March as the MYAA month, during which young people in collaboration with various partners, hold HIV and AIDS counselling sessions, community mobilisation and out-reach as well as advocacy campaigns throughout the country.

He told Sepopa residents that it was important that new infections were stopped with the objective of achieving an AIDS transition where fewer people are newly infected . 

The campaign prevention approaches focuses on reducing the risk of HIV transmission through changes in sexual behavior and addresses the the underlying structural issues such as social norms, poverty, gender inequalities and reducing the risks of bio-medical transmission, he said.

For his part, the principal youth officer in the Okavango Sub-district, Ms Joyce Gaonewe said they have built youth friendly clinics in Gumare, Shakawe and Xakao  with youth friendly nurses trained on youth related problems. 

She said they had introduced pool tables, television sets and different games like chess and table tennis at these clinics, the main aim being to move youth out of crime and alcohol that may lead to HIV infections.

A member of Condomise Botswana campaign, Mr Lucas Nku said that the Ministry of Health has introduced new condoms with different sizes, texture, flavours and colors with the aim of accommodating different preferences.
He encouraged youth to go for SMC as it reduces the chances of contracting HIV by 60 per cent, and reduces cervical cancer infection in women.

For his part, the Youth Empowerment Committee deputy chairperson Mr Keole Mogate encouraged the youth to get tested for HIV and book for circumcision in order to qualify for a day football tournament in which they will give the winning team a football kit, medals and a trophy. Giving a vote of thanks, Kgosi Rangosa Nkape of Sepopa applauded the ministry for bringing this initiative to his people, saying this showed that there was no place far from developments.  

He also was impressed by the number of youths who recently tested for HIV and enrolled for SMC. ENDS