14 Feb 2019

Gender disparity is evident for new HIV infections among young people aged between 15-24.

 Adolescent girls and young women bear the brunt of 27 per cent of new infections compared to just over 10 per cent for males within the same age group.  

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Ms Ruth Maphorisa, shared this at a healthy relationships workshop organised for young employees in her ministry in Gaborone on February 12. 

To combat the challenge of new HIV infections, Ms Maphorisa said her ministry was tasked with formulating strategies and interventions to ensure a healthy generation of leaders.

 “Deliberate efforts have been made in packaging services relevant to adolescents and youth such as the roll-out of youth friendly health services which offer sexual and reproductive health services to young people,” she said. 

Ms Maphorisa said the workshop signified government’s concerted effort in fighting against negative behaviour and social ills faced by the young population across Botswana.

Royal Assembly Ministries’  Pastor Boago Ramogapi emphasised need to love oneself before extending that to others. 

“Fall in love with yourself, accept your failures, do what makes you happy instead seeking fulfillment from other people ,” he noted. In addition, he called on individuals to seek personal development and constantly renew their perspective and thought process.

Mentorship, counselling and seeking professional help was recommended as key for lasting relationships and marriages. 

“Find someone to submit your relationship and marriage under, someone that you account to and who you can consult from time to time regarding issues of love,” he said. Objectives of the workshop according to the ministerial youth officer, Ms Goitseone Phatshwane, was to motivate and encourage youth to make the right sexual reproductive choices for themselves and their loved ones as well as creating a platform for young people to share experiences about love. ends