18 Apr 2016

The Minister of Infrastructure Science and Technology, Mr Nonofho Molefhi says discipline and behaviour change are key instruments that can help defeat HIV and AIDS.Closing commemorations of Month of Youth Against AIDS in Selebi Phikwe recently, Minister Molefhi, who is also MP for Selebi Phikwe East, said the battle against HIV and AIDS could be won by youth through their positive energy and being on the battle front.

“I would like to close the Month of Youth Against AIDS by urging young Batswana to continue displaying positive behaviour, a decision that will ensure protection against the spread of HIV/AIDS and other potential social ills,” he said. He said it has been established and well documented through various studies in Botswana and elsewhere that the high rate of STI’s, alcohol and substance abuse as well as multiple concurrent partnerships fuelled HIV and AIDS.

He noted that the good news however was that all these were behavioural in nature and were therefore within peoples control to address through interventions.

Minister Molefhi urged parents to guide their children to be knowledgeable and comfortable to talk about sex education at a young age. He said globally there has been a 38 per cent reduction in new HIV infections since 2001 demonstrating that there was hope if young people commit to taking responsibility over their lives.

He explained that commemorations have been held annually and successfully with the aim of preventing new cases of infection among young people and Batswana in general. END