21 Mar 2017

Assistant minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse has on March 17 urged the youth to stop new cases of HIV infections.

Speaking during the ministry’s month of youth against Aids workshop at Moreane, Mr Autlwetse said the fourth Botswana Aids Impact Survey of 2013 revealed that young people between the ages of 35-49 are the hardest hit by the HIV scourge.

Mr Autlwetse further shared that females had a relatively higher prevalence rate of 20.8 per cent against males with 15.6 respectively.

He said the statistics were a cause for concern considering that young people constituted 42 per cent of the national population.

Under the theme,”Youth against Aids to attain food security,” Mr Autlwetse said they brought together young people to share knowledge and attitudes.

He said the month afforded the youth a rare chance to reflect on their actions as individuals and age mates and their ability to influence the next person to act responsibly. We all should raise our hands to be counted in the HIV/AIDS prevention,” he said.

To this end, he said his ministry was a pivotal player in the provision of a concrete foundation for zero HIV infections going forward.

Mr Autlwetse explained that they deliberately chose a young farmer Mr Aubrey Maseko to host the launch as a way of encouraging the youth to take advantage of the opportunities availed by government through his ministry to secure themselves a bright future.

Mr Autlwetse further shared that the Vision 2036 pillar of Human and Social Development commited the nation to have made relevant investment in its youthful population in order to reap the demographic dividends including among others, improved sexual and reproductive health.

For her part, district agricultural coordinator, Mrs Monia Mfolwe said good health  was a pivotal aspect of her sector.

Ms Mfolwe said they encouraged young people to venture into the Agric-sector in good numbers and improve the conditions of their lives but alive to the fact that for them to go far they needed good health to sustain their business ventures.

She said the object of the workshop was therefore to take young farmers on board and encourage them to take responsibility for their lives.

“We know that a healthy young farmer would be able to take better care of their project and run it in a sustainable way,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mr Maseko has encouraged young farmers to marry at their earliest convenience. Mr Maseko who is also married, said marriage and sticking to one partner can help them avoid sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS.

Mr Maseko also said marriage could give young farmers focus in life.

“In my wife, I have both a helper and advisor. After a good business, I go straight home to her rather than going out with the boys to spend the money,”he said.” ENDS