30 Aug 2017

United States of America Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Earl Miller has commended traditional leaders for taking responsibility for the health and well-being of their tribes and communities.

“We appreciate the leadership and passion you have shown for the SMC programme,” said Mr Miller when addressing traditional leaders at the Moshupa main kgotla on August 28.

Mr Miller was attending an accelerated safe male circumcision campaign in the village.

He also commended government and stakeholders for their efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The US ambassador said he was happy that government was creating a conducive policy framework to combat the AIDS scourge.

He noted that government introduced the treat all strategy in 2016 to enroll every HIV positive patient  for anti-retroviral treatment regardless of their CD4 count, Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT), HIV testing, counselling, condom distribution and Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) which, he said, set the nation on the path towards an AIDS free future.

Mr Miller further said through teamwork and leadership there had been a steady increase in the number of men testing for HIV and choosing to circumcise which played a vital role in preventing new HIV infections.

The US diplomat noted that his country has contributed $33million through the President’s Emergency Programme for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to support the local SMC programme since inception in 2009.

He said the funding included technical support, supply chain management, training, research and service delivery.

He added that the PEPFAR Botswana partnership has invested P8 billion in the national HIV response since 2004.

Mr Miller said their partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness had improved the health of Batswana men and their partners through a comprehensive HIV prevention package.

He noted that the package included testing and counselling, provision of condoms and the promotion of their correct and consistent use, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) screening and treatment referrals, sexual and reproductive health education.

Mr Miller also noted that in July this year, the health ministry worked with schools across the country in a SMC campaign which yielded an increase from 31 to 53 per cent increase.

He applauded parents, teachers and school heads for the achievement.

The US ambassador also urged all Batswana to take advantage of the window of opportunity to test for HIV, and that those diagnosed with the virus should enroll for treatment, and those on treatment to continue adhering to the medication.

He noted that men older than 30 years were lagging behind on SMC during school campaigns.

He said they were also not keen to get tested and enroll for treatment at the levels required to reach epidemic control.

Mr Miller said communities needed to know that SMC had many benefits for couples and families other than reducing the risk of men acquiring HIV.

He stressed that SMC reduced the transmission of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which was linked with cervical cancer in women.

For his part, Kgosi Mosielele said he would call regular meetings for young men to discuss health and sexuality issues at the Moshupa main kgotla.

He said everyone should be involved in the fight, adding that “this is a community problem not that of the health ministry alone, and ownership should be extended to the community.”

Kgosi Mosielele said awareness has been done throughout the country and that the onus now lied with every person to start acting responsibly.

Meanwhile, Dr Malebogo Rauwe said the Moshupa Sub-district was blessed to have been picked for the accelerated campaign on SMC from March to August this year.

He said 622 procedures out of the targeted 1 000 were done. ENDS