02 Oct 2015

The deputy coordinator of the Greater Francistown District Health Management Team (GFDHMT), Dr Alex Kalonji has called on men to play a leading role in the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge.

 He said if men stroll behind in the fight against the epidemic while women lead the fight, chances of realising the national target of zero new infections by 2016 and beyond would not be realised.

 He was addressing attendants and participants at a Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Couple Testing campaign organised by the district health management team in Serule recently.

“It is time for men to take the frontline in the battle against HIV/AIDS. 

We can only reach zero infection with total involvement of men. 

Even the national anthem calls on men to stand up and play a leading role, and they should take heed of this call,” he said.

Dr Kalonji went on to state that the government was committed to fighting the scourge. 

He added that the government was concerned that new infections were still being recorded while information about preventative measures was being disseminated to the public.

He said Serule recorded one baby who tested positive this year which was a concern because PMTCT has been availed. 

“In other areas around the country babies are still born HIV positive as well while PMTCT is available which should not be happening,” he said. 

He noted that PMTCT was introduced in 1999 with the target to have less than one per cent new infections by 2016.

Meanwhile, Ms Pretty Maruatona from Serule Clinic said the PMTCT and Couple Testing event was meant to sensitise residents about HIV and how to stop the spread of the virus.  She added that the event was also held to encourage couples to test together.

She explained that in most instances men do not play a role and women were the ones who have to go through the testing routine alone when pregnant. 

“We held the event to teach people about HIV/AIDS and how to prevent re-infections, prevent transmission of the virus from mother to child and encourage couple testing,” she said.

 Ms Keolopile Willy from Serule Clinic noted that 63 people tested on the day. 

She said out of the total number, 10 couples tested plus 13 partners. She said the difference between couples and partners was that partners were those who came for HIV test alone while couples were those who tested together at the same time.

 

Ms Willy said since the beginning of September to date, 195 people in Serule tested for HIV. Ends