01 Jul 2013

Botswana aims at eradicating malaria by the year 2015, says the Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri.

Addressing kgotla meetings in Sehithwa and Tsau recently, Mr Matlhabaphiri said SADC member states had agreed to take necessary steps in eradicating the disease.

He said malaria continued to trouble government especially in Ngamiland District and encouraged residents to allow health officials from the council to spray their homesteads with chemicals to protect them from mosquitoes.

“I have also been informed that some people use mosquito nets they receive from council as fishing nets and this is not acceptable,” he said.

Mr Matlhabaphiri said government was putting measures in place to eradicate malaria and people should also play their part. He further encouraged people to test for HIV so as to know their status, noting that men seemed to be lagging behind in this aspect.

Mr Matlhabaphiri, who is also the MP for Molepolole North, indicated that when one tested and turns out to be positive, it helped one to act on time by enrolling for anti-retroviral (ARVs) drugs.

He further encouraged men to get circumcised because it reduced the chance of them contracting sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. “Getting circumcised does not mean one should not use protection when engaging in sexual intercourse,” he advised. ENDS