22 May 2013

Residents of Jwaneng have been encouraged to test for HIV.

Speaking at the recent international candle light memorial service held in Jwaneng, Jwaneng Mine wellness educator, Ms Thatayotlhe Maokisa said lack of knowledge of one’s HIV status, having multiple concurrent partners (MCPs), lack of safe male circumcision (SMC) and commercial sex were some of the factors fuelling the HIV epidemic.

Speaking about Jwaneng in particular, Ms Maokisa said the mining town had 2 487 people currently taking Antiretroviral (ARV) with 62.2 per cent of them being females. Furthermore, she said teenage pregnancy was not helping in fighting HIV as it was an indication that there was unprotected sex amongst young people.

The wellness educator further said illnesses such Tuberculosis (TB) shortened the survival of people with HIV/AIDS and men made more than 50 per cent of people living with HIV and TB. She encouraged residents to take responsibility for their health and wellness, to communicate with their partners and children on HIV/AIDS.

Ms Maokisa further encouraged children to participate in health forums conducted in and around their schools as it would promote their well-being. The chairperson of minister’s fraternal, Mr Binang Makgetho called on pastors to preach about holiness and the importance of communication between spouses.

He also encouraged people to get married and respect the holy union, so as to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The memorial was held with the objective of sensitizing the community to own up to the national response of getting to zero new infections by the year 2016. ENDS