16 Dec 2014

Gender-based violence continues to be a major hindrance in achieving the objective of winning the war against HIV and AIDS

Speaking during the Letlhakeng Sub District World AIDS day commemoration in Monwane on Friday (December 12), the sub-district HIV and AIDS coordinator, Ms Semakaleng Ooke said such gender based violence was a result of lack of proper communication between couples, especially on issues related to sexual intercourse.

She added that inconsistent condom use was also a major worrying factor, adding that this was symbolised by high teenage pregnancy and new infections.

Ms Ooke was however, quick to commend people in her area saying that despite those shortcomings, they ranked the second lowest in the whole country as per the preliminary results of the 2013 Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS IV).

“This is a sign that the fight is not totally lost. We must work harder with more focus on behavioural change,” she said.

For his part, Colonel Hendrick Rakgantswana from Thebephatshwa Airbase encouraged the residents to fully utilise the available government HIV and AIDS intervention strategies such as ARVs, PMTCT, HIV testing, home based care program among others as government was spending millions of pula on their provision.

There was also a need to fight stigma and discrimination amongst people living with HIV and AIDS as that would create a platform for them to disclose their HIV and AIDS status, thus motivating others with the same status to live positively, he said.

Col Rakgantswana urged the public to change their attitudes towards people living with HIV and AIDS as a means of reducing vulnerability to the disease. ENDS