12 Dec 2016

Moshupa deputy district commissioner, Ms Berman Mosime has applauded government for her commitment towards the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Speaking during the Moshupa Sub-district’s World Aids Day commemoration in Lotlhakane West recently, she said Botswana had made major strides and meaningful impact towards fighting the ‘deadly monster’.

She said due to the major strides that she made, it was possible to had an HIV/AIDS free generation.

Ms Mosime said this year’s theme titled Hands Up For #HIV Prevention was meant to energise and stimulate Batswana to accelerate pace and intensity of individual and collective efforts to reverse the scourge.

She said Batswana to change their mind-set and attitude towards the HIV/AIDS epidemic so as to achieve the goal of an HIV free gemeration.

She noted that focusing on HIV prevention was paramount because statistics indicate that 1.9 million adults were infected with HIV every year over the past years, condom use worldwide is much low across all population demographics and that two thirds of young people do not have correct knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

Ms Mosime said in order to tackle this issue, the United Nations General Assembly had since identified some prevention pillars that would be the focus until 2020.

She said some of the recommendations include ensuring that 90 per cent of people at risk of HIV infection access comprehensive prevention services including harm reduction by 2020 and that 20 billion condoms should be availed to low and middle income countries by 2020, among others.

She therefore called on Batswana to implement some of the mentioned recommendations by aligning sub-district response activities with the national and world priorities.

She also applauded some of those living with HIV/AIDS for sharing their stories.

 “You have demanded your dignity to be recognised and led the fight to spare others the anguish of the disease,” she said. ENDS