13 Mar 2018

Men’s Sector in the Francistown district has recently relaunched in time to support the international 90-90-90 mayors’ initiative. 

The relaunch was held in partnership with the District Multi Sectoral Aids Committee (DMSAC) on March 10.

During an interview Men’s Sector chairperson, Mr Zenzo Mantsee, mentioned that as an organization they found it necessary to be part of the 90-90-90 initiative as it has been evident that men are not forthcoming when it comes to HIV testing.

He further explained that a football tournament for the Francistown West constituency was held where teams and supporters were required to test for HIV/AIDS in order to qualify to play in the tournament; teams that recorded the highest number of HIV testing qualified to play.

Mr Mantsee stated that the football tournament would be cascaded to other constituencies in the city in the pursuit of getting more men to get tested adding that the four teams that qualified for the tournament in the Francistown West constituency were the Silver Stars, Barata Bolo, Batla Kaila and the All Kasi teams. 

He further added that the prize money was P3 000 first prize and P2 500 for second prize.

For her part, District AIDS coordinator Ms Elizabeth Wright noted that DMSAC was working  with Tebelopele Testing Centre and other health facilities to get people to test in large numbers adding that the department had endeavored in community outreaches since the beginning of the month.

“We are not interested in knowing people’s HIV status. We are only pushing for people to know their status,” she added.

Ms Wright stated that they were hopeful that the football tournament would encourage and attract more people to get tested for HIV/AIDS.

The deputy mayor of Francistown Mr Godisang Radisigo encouraged men to take responsibility in knowing that they were part of the 90-90-90 initiative and should help achieve it adding that if they did not support the initiative it might not be able to achieve its goals. 

He further urged men to care for their wives and be active in the upbringing of their children.

The 90-90-90 target is a UNAIDS goal that by 2020, 90 per cent of all people living with HIV would know their HIV status, that 90 per cent of all people with HIV infection would have received anti-retroviral therapy and that by 2020, 90 per cent of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy would have viral suppression. ENDS