07 Dec 2015

Molepolole-Lentsweletau Sub-district councillors have expressed concern over the increase in HIV and AIDS related diseases in the Sub-district.

They raised the concern recently at the sub council forum following a Sub-District Development Committee report that indicated an increase in the number of people with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from 1 538 in the last quarter of the year to 2 949 in the second quarter.

The number of teenage pregnancies registered stood at 65. In response to the report, Cllr Allen Jacob of Boribamo East said the increase in the number of people with STIs calls for their intervention as leaders, cautioning that others will end up politicising the issue just like some did with the safe male circumcision campaign.

He further said all should join hands and try to reduce the number and that students should be encouraged to test for HIV and STIs in schools.

Cllr Molemisi Motsewabathata of Mankgwenyane said children nowadays watch sex stimulating materials from the internet and emulate that, ending up engaging in unprotected sex, hence an increase in STIs statistics.

He further said the youth might have got the impression that getting circumcised is not a guarantee against getting infected, saying parents should be educated on behavioural change issues to be better placed to talk to their children on those issues.

Meanwhile, Kweneng East District AIDS coordinator, Ms Teresa Makati said all should be involved in working towards reducing the number of teenage pregnancies and STIs in the sub district.

She said sex had always been there but it was up to people to stay faithful to their partners as having multi-concurrent partners was risky and promoted the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Ms Makati further said in the past they engaged non-governmental organisations to go around schools addressing students on issues of HIV and AIDS and teenage pregnancy, but said at the moment they do not have money to do so. ENDS