07 Jul 2014

African Comprehensive HIV Aids Partnership (ACHAP) Executive Officer (Programmes), Dr Frank Mwangemi says it will be better for different sporting codes across the country to identify their own champions who will encourage others to undergo Safe Male Circumcision (SMC).

Speaking at a one day workshop for sports leaders organised by Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) at Yarona Country Lodge on Saturday July 5 , Dr Mwangemi said the idea will help empower other athletes with the right knowledge on issues of circumcision.

He explained that SMC has many personal benefits for both males and females in that it helps prevent the spread of HIV and emulate behavioural change. He said in men, SMC promote penis hygiene and reduces man’s infection chances while in women, it offers protection on the cancer of the cervix.

Dr Mwangemi refuted as false, misconception that SMC reduces sexual performance and motivated men to undergo the surgical in large numbers.

He said one of the main challenges why men are reluctant to go for SMC is fear and death while other challenges are cultural and religious based.

On other issues, Dr Mwangemi said Botswana has a success story to tell in the implementation of the HV/AIDS treatment programme in the public sector, adding that currently, 240 000 patients are on ARV treatment, which is a big achievement.

However, he explained that prevention remains a major problem because people still continue to contract the HIV/AIDS virus in large numbers.  He said TB is also one of the major health challenges as Botswana is ranked amongst the top six countries with a burden of the diseases in the whole world.

Meanwhile, BCF President Tshenolo Maruatona explained that the workshop was made successful because the Federation entered into a partnership with ACHAP and Cally Clothing. 

He noted that the partnership gears to use sport as a vehicle to convey HIV/Aids Prevention messages and this comes against the national objective to reduce new infections of the virus as it is evident that most people are following sport.

Maruatona therefore said chess as one of the fastest growing sports in the country that has a similar advantage and it is against this premise that the partnership endeavours to convey the message through chess.

He also explained that through the same partnership, ACHAP also support Gaborone International Open chess tournament to the tune of over P23 000.


He said the tournament has over the years been running without a sponsor and this goes a long way in support for chess, adding that the Federation will use the tournament to accord players of different age categories an opportunity to play a Fide rated tournament, most importantly to benefit from the HIV/AIDS prevention message themed with the event. ENDS