18 Mar 2019

Adolescents should be fed with relevant information on HIV/AIDS and Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs) related issues. 

District youth coordinator in Francistown, Ms Minkie Bokole, said this during an adolescent sexual reproductive health talk show and sanitary pads donation held in conjunction with the District Health Management Team (DHMT) in Francistown recently. 

“Today many girls are exposed to challenges that they know little about and information starvation can expose them to more danger,” she said.

Ms Bokole said the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development had decided to engage schools.

She urged learners to make the right choices and live the youth ministry’s tagline; My life, My future, My responsibility.

District officer, Ms Bagomotsi Kooitse announced that a committee responsible for handling people living with disability welfare issues  had been formed under the district commissioner’s office

“This committee had reviewed laws pertaining to people living with disability including those fostering access to services by learners with disability,” she said.

For her part, District Sexual Reproductive coordinator from Francistown DHMT, Ms Pona Setshego complained about parents who were reluctant in the wellbeing of their children, adding that leaving the responsibility to teachers alone was strenuous.

She said as learners transitioned into adolescence, effective collaboration between teachers and parents could only be achieved through knowledge sharing .

Lack of knowledge, she said, could pose grave danger to growing adolescents. 

“Pupils should be taught on how to use pads and protect themselves from scavenging men who are ravenous wolves clothed in sheep skin,” she said. 

The situation in Francistown, she added was worsened by prevalent alcohol consumption and drug abuse. ENDS