21 Nov 2016

Coordinator of National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA), Mr Richard Matlhare says HIV/AIDS war is not yet over.

Briefing the media in Gaborone on Thursday, Mr Matlhare said new HIV infections were increasing by 1.35 per cent every year in the country, hence the need to reinvigorate prevention efforts to stay on the fast track to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Mr Matlhare said World AIDS Day Commemoration called for all to come together to remember the fallen heroes, adding that in three decades Batswana came to accept that they could live well with HIV/AIDS.

He, however, noted that accepting to live with HIV/AIDS did not mean that it had to be adopted.

Mr Matlhare said although Botswana has made a tremendous progress against the disease, it was worrisome that new infections were increasing. However, he said a decline of HIV infection among the elderly had been reported. Botswana has a success story dealing with HIV/AIDS.

Mr Matlhare said Batswana were grateful for the country’s leadership, who continued to grace the December 1 event annually.

He said President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s attendance at the event showed that he cared, adding that it also acted as a motivation to continue the good fight to be an HIV free generation.

For her part, the acting director of department of HIV and AIDS, in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Ms Chipo Peto said Botswana had 10 programmes geared towards prevention and care support on HIV/AIDS related matters.

Ms Peto mentioned that 70 per cent of Batswana know their HIV status adding that they still have a long way to convince the remaining 30 per cent to know their status as well.

Regarding the safe male circumcision, Ms Peto said they had a target to circumcise 80 per cent of men, that is having 385 000 men circumcised by 2016, but so far only 169 537 are circumcised which makes only 44 per cent.

On the Care and support programme, Ms Peto stated that within the 400 000 Batswana that are HIV infected, and that only 287 00 patients, about 70 per cent are on treatment.

She urged the patients diagnosed with HIV to enrol to receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, saying of all the 567 health facilities, 565 offer ARVs.

Ms Peto said communities have an important role to play in helping to reduce stigma and encouraging people to get tested and adhere to treatment.

On the PMTCT, Ms Peto said of the 43 000 women who deliver every year, 14 000 are HIV infected, while rate at which babies are infected is two per cent.

She said their desire was to have a zero transmission from mother to child, but the concern was that mothers take longer to go for HIV testing.

The theme of the event is “Hands up for # prevention”. A palm will be used to write messages on how new infections could be reduced. The messages will be posted on different social media for everyone to read worldwide. BOPA