06 Mar 2018

Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila says young people should help government find solutions for challenges they face.

He was speaking at the official launch of Month of Youth Against AIDS (MYAA) in Maun on March 5.

Mr Mzwinila said government expected positive contributions from youth going forward since young people should be accountable for their future.

The MYAA, he said, was added to existing HIV/AIDS strategies in 1997 to give young people platform to share information on HIV prevention, care and support.

Mr Mzwinila noted that the MYAA commemorations re-affirmed consistency in HIV/AIDS interventions to any emerging issues related to the disease.

He observed that government was still committed to youth matters and the fight against HIV/AIDS with the Treat All strategy, which was adopted in 2016, as an addition to the existing strategies such as Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT).

Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) chairperson, Mr Kitso Masi also encouraged young people not to lose hope until fight against HIV/AIDS is won.

Mr Masi advised young people to get tested and know their HIV status, saying they should soldier on even when diagnosed with HIV.

He said MYAA gave young people a chance to share information and motivates them to tackle HIV/AIDS matters.

The day, he said, was commemorated in Maun to give the village youth a platform to introspect as individuals and to remember that their rights came with responsibilities.

In her remarks, Maun Youth Ambassador, Ms Tshepiso Botumile, who spoke on behalf of young people, said teenage pregnancy, alcohol abuse and sexual transmitted diseases were rampant in Maun.

Ms Botumile also said young people in Maun required a second youth-friendly health facility since the existing one at Matshwane Clinic was distant to most young people. ENDS