18 Apr 2018

In an effort to encourage young people to lead healthy lifestyle, Holy Cross Chiro, a youth movement under Roman Catholic Church recently hosted a four day wellness open workshop at Ledumadumane Junior Secondary School.  

The workshop attracted over 13 groups from different Catholic branches from Molepolole, Thamaga, and Lentsweletau, among others.

 Mr Pako Ramokhua, who serves under Molepolole Denary on social welfare issues explained that the core purpose of the initiative was to drill young people on spiritual growth and life skills and wellness.

“We started this initiative because our aim is to engage young people on wellness issues as well as equip them with life skills that will help them to deal with any challenges they encounter in their everyday lives,” he explained.

Mr Ramakhua however expressed disappointment over the attendance from the youth, but was happy that the numbers gradually increased during the weekend. 

“We came to Mogoditshane because it is more centralised for all the 13 groups, hence we expected a better attendance,” he said. Speaking on behalf of the Kweneng Blood Donation Centre, Mr Olebile Choko, who is a principal registered nurse at Scottish Livingstone Referral Hospital in Molepololed, praised the initiative.

“Through our long-standing mutual relationship with Holy Cross Chiro, this initiative has grown in leaps and bounds and not only to change, but save lives and we are glad to be part of this initiative because it is through the wellness presentations that we raise awareness on issues of health and the importance of blood donation by the youth,” he said.

Further, he highlighted the shortage of blood challenge faced by the country as a whole, stating that there was dire need for young people to take responsibility and lend a helping hand in donating blood.

“Annually, the country has a target of 40 000 pints of blood, but over the years we have fallen shy of the target, the only time we came close was in 2015 when we racked up 27 000 units, which is still below the set target,” stated Mr Choko.

Mr Choko shared that their target through the initiative was to collect 27 pints in total at the end of the workshop.

Among the organisations participating in the workshop was Humana People to People Botswana, a nonprofit making organisation aimed at fostering developments and raising awareness on health issues.

In an open presentation, Mr Atang Selepeng of Humana People to People mentioned the key roles by the organisation, which includeed HIV testing as well as Prevention and Community care.

“With HIV testing we are able to do door to door testing to further bring testing services closer to the community and it is through the community care role that we make sure that people living with HIV are able to monitor their CD4 cell count as well as the viral load,” said Mr Selepeng. 

Ms Boingotlo Monageng, who joined a handful of young people who donated blood, encouraged young people to come forward and donate blood whenever possible.

“We all know that there is shortage of blood across Botswana and today I took a generous step in donating for a greater good and I am proud to say I will help save a life. 

So I can only hope young people like me will heed this call, not only through blood donation, but also engaging on issues of health and social skills,” she said.

As an act of social responsibility, Holy Cross Chiro also donated four sets of school uniform to Ledumadumane JSS. ENDS