04 Mar 2019

PMTCT coordinator for Lobatse District Health Management Team (DHMT), Ms Doreen Mfaladi says partner testing for HIV is still generally low in Lobatse.

Speaking during couple testing dinner held in Lobatse recently, she said partner testing stood at 17 per cent in Lobatse, adding that even nationally, partner testing was very low. 

She said if more couples tested together for HIV in Lobatse, it could help in the reduction of Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) rate in the district. 

She further said if more couples could test together, the roadmap 90-90-90 would be achieved in Lobatse district. 

The 90-90-90 target set by UNAIDS encourages countries to aim to achieve diagnosis of 90 per cent of people living with HIV by 2020, initiate treatment of 90 per cent of diagnosed people by 2020 and viral suppression of 90 per cent of people on treatment by 2020.

Ms Mfaladi said Lobatse DHMT decided to host a couple testing dinner in order to appreciate and encourage couples that had tested together for HIV. 

Lobatse deputy district commissioner, Ms Kolobetso Sejakgomo said the 90-90-90 programme was launched in Lobatse last year with the intention to encourage more people to test for HIV. 

She said the number of couples who have tested together for HIV was a clear indication that the 90-90-90 programme was bearing the desired result. 

“We should commend government for its role in fighting HIV. Government has asked mayors in this country to promote the 90-90-90 programme. I am happy that we are doing a good job in Lobatse because the programme has been taken to different parts of the town,” she said.

She said the programme gave more people an opportunity to test and know their HIV status. She advised people who had tested positive for HIV not to despair, but to continue taking care of themselves and look forward to live with positive attitude. 

“Being HIV positive is not the end of life. It means that one should take care of themselves and value their life,” she said.  

Kgosi Mpaesele Itumeleng of Woodhall location said it was important for couples to test together for HIV to know their status, and urged couples to avoid keeping their HIV status secret from each other. 

“It is not a good thing to not know the HIV status of your partner. Testing together for HIV shows a lot of responsibility and maturity. 

It also shows that there is trust between the two partners,” he said in his welcome remarks. 

He said more couple testing should be encouraged, and said community leaders should lead by example and test for HIV with their partners. ends