07 Dec 2015

Men have been urged to accompany their female partners to health facilities when they are pregnant and screening for various diseases.

This was said by Senior Superintendent Gabriel Magole of Letlhakane Prison. He was the chief walker in a march organised by the Boteti Men Sector under the theme: Walk a mile on her shoes.

Mr Magole said a tendency by men to enquire about the status of their partners when they return from health facilities was cowardly as they want to rely on women who have no way out.

“You will agree with me that as men we tend to leave the burden of registration for pregnancy, testing for HIV/AIDS and others to our dear wives and girlfriends,” he said.

He also implored men to love their partners because the same gesture would make them reciprocate as they would be viewed as men of virtue. He said they would also make women rally behind their effort, and as a result they would be successful in their endeavors.

For his part, the vice chairperson of Boteti Men Sector Mr Seonyatseng Kereelwang said their main objective was to encourage men to engage in the Prevention from Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme.

He said they also want to urge men to test for HIV/AIDS with their partners, and to make it a point that they screen for other diseases that may affect their health.

Boteti District Community Health Nurse, Mr Luke Lepodisi said initially the PMTCT programme was concentrating mainly on women at the expense of men, and that their reason  to put them on board was that the child belongs to both parties.

He also urged partners to restrain from engaging in multiple concurrent relationships as this puts their lives in danger.

“This district continues to record a high number of sexually transmitted diseases,” he said.

The march, which was in line with 16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign, saw men marching for a mile in ladies stilettoes. The motive behind the march was to let men experience the difficulties that women experience in their day to day lives. ENDS