03 Jul 2017

Through President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) the US government is committed to assisting Botswana in its efforts to combat HIV/AIDS affliction and is currently contributing P200 million annually for treatment and distribution of HIV/AIDS services.

Speaking at the launch of Thusang Bana Centre, PEPFAR communication specialist, Mr John Payne said since the start of the collaboration the fund had contributed about P8 billion to use in fighting the scourge and called on all to heed messages by organisations such as Thusang Bana Centre, for the nation to realisee its efforts to stop the disease.

He said the society should be concerned by the numbers of new infections, which he said studies put at 27 people daily, translating to over 10 000 new infections annually, the situation he said would derail government and stakeholders drive for an HIV/AIDS-free nation.

He said the relief fund was behind government efforts on treat all campaign launched last year

According to the centre director, Mr Stanley Monageng, Thusang Bana was established originally to care and support vulnerable and HIV/AIDS orphaned children, but had since grown to accommodate even changing community needs such as helping the elderly with eye problems.

He said the centre started a feeding programme and care for the elderly as a way to response to government calls for communities to assist and participate in HIV/AIDS prevention efforts.

“We started as an organisation caring for HIV/AIDS orphaned and vulnerable children, after we realised that a lot of parents, especially the elderly could not afford to give care to their children, hence we opened the centre.
We also offer testing and counselling services,” he said.

He said the centre had been able to achieve its mandate through the assistance of PEPFAR, Ministry of Health and Wellness and were collaborating with education ministry to engage learners on HIV/AIDS issues.

Molepolole North MP, Mr Mahomed Khan said by caring for one another and partaking in voluntary work would not only earn Bakwena the respect and dignity they deserved, but would also attract good deeds from other NGOs dealing with volunteerism services.

He commended the centre for caring for vulnerable children and the elderly, which he said restored their dignity and called on Molepolole community to embrace and participate in such activities geared towards supporting the less fortunate members of society.

Mr Khan said the support should as well go to the many talents abundant, especially among the youth to help them be self-employed and leave free from social ills and parents as such should play a leading role in identifying and supporting such.

He said participation and monitory contributions made by PEPFAR in efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS scourge was saving a lot of lives and making it possible for the affected to continue caring for the families and contributing to the national economy.

The MP said if society did not heed messages on HIV/AIDS implications and not utilising services intended to mediate such impact, they must know that they were responsible for stalled developments, because money which could have been used on roads construction, provision of medical services and education would be diverted to HIV/AIDS efforts. ENDS