18 Feb 2015

Couples have been encouraged to test together as a way of reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The coordinator of Tebelepele Testing Centre, Ms Golekanye Monare said recently during a dinner hosted by District Multi Sectoral AIDS Committee (DMSAC) in Selebi Phikwe.

She said DMSAC was concerned about HIV/AIDS cases in Selebi Phikwe, as the town remained number one in the rankings of the pandemic cases in the whole country.
Also, she said people should change their behavior and disclose their statuses to their partners to reduce infection.

Ms Monare further emphasised the need to seek advice as discordant couple. She asked the tested couples to encourage other couples in the community to test together.

In partnership with Botswana Christian AIDS Intervention Program (BOCAIP), DMSAC has started implementing the campaign of couple testing which kicked off on February 2, and will end on February 28.

Ms Monare said their target was to test 40 couples in two weeks but they managed to surpass their target as Tebelopele tested 43 couples while BOCAIP managed six.

She said in October, November and December last year, they only tested 83 couples which represents 5.4 per cent of Selibe Phikwe population.

Ms Monare thus encouraged couples to take advantage of the campaign to test together as per the theme “A couple that tests together stays together’.

For her part, guest relations officer at Cresta Bosele Hotel, Ms Masego Masunga said they hosted the valentine’s dinner annually and they give out dinner and accommodation vouchers to couples as a way of encouraging couple testing.

She added that the dinner was an opportunity for couples to meet, share, have fun and honour the Valentine’s Day with other couples.

One of couples who won themselves a dinner ticket, Mr Gabalebale Gabokgowe and Mrs Ogomoditse Gabokgowe who had been in a relationship for eight years before they got married and are married for 11 years said the campaign was a good initiative, and as a couple they took the advantage to test together and encouraged other couples to do so.

Another youthful couple, Mr Kealeboga Kebareng and Ms Gorata Thuso said they took advantage of the campaign because of the love and the commitment they have for each other. They advised young couples to test together for everything to be transparent in the relationship. ENDS