19 Mar 2019

The Executive Chairperson of Serowe Men Sector Committee, Mr Phillip Mokoto has appealed to men to join Men Sector committees to contribute towards the reduction of HIV/AIDS, Gender Based Violence and mitigate the impact of social ills among youth in Botswana. Mr Mokoto, who is also a Prison Warder in Serowe, said Men Sector was a sub-committee of the National AIDS Council charged with the responsibility of advocating for men’s involvement and mobilisation of the male population.

Mr Mokoto, who was speaking to committee members in Serowe on Wednesday, further added that Men Sector was a critical player in the national HIV response with skills and competencies for implementing programmes, adding that it capacitated communities, policy makers and programme managers on engaging the male sector of the population.

“Membership to Men Sector is open to all male dominated organisations, their employees and their clients.

There are established Men Sector structures that ensure smooth coordination and implementation of sector activities,’’ he said.

He also said their intention was to visit many areas where Gender Base Violence was a problem in order to educate men on their role as family leaders. Mr Mokoto said one of objectives of Men’s Sector was to ensure that men participate in the reduction of new infections of HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections.

He further said men had a bad practice of not going to hospital until and when they are very sick.

“Men also have a tendency of abusing women physically, emotionally, sexually and also denying them the right to interact with them and other women,” he said.

Mr Mokoto said men needed healthy minds and healthy bodies, which would eventually lead them to be healthy leaders.

He said although the sector met its goals in the district, they still had challenges, which made it difficult for them to complete their mandate. He said some government departments were reluctant to release their staff to partake in Men’s Sector activities, saying some elected committee members failed to attend meetings.

He further said though the Men Sector’s mandate was to encourage men to be responsible leaders and take care of their health, some were still reluctant to come forward to share their problems. Ends