28 May 2019

Batswana have been urged to support young people living with HIV/AIDS since the scourge presents a challenge to those who are still exploring sexuality and dynamics of growing up.

Kgosi Kebinatshwene Mosielele of Manyana, an activist who advocates for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, said this during an international candle light commemoration in Francistown on recenty.

He explained that unlike old people, some young persons were born with the disease, something that called for concerted efforts to assist them navigate taking medication, living positive lifestyles and protecting themselves.

“These young people are still growing and need the support of the whole community to be able to live productive lives,” he added.

Kgosi Mosielele explained that it was possible to stop new HIV/AIDS infections if people lived responsibly and utilised available protection methods.

Churches, traditional leaders should take the lead in ensuring that people living with HIVAIDS were not discriminated against, he added.

Consequently, he encouraged the community to love and accept the youth who were infected and affected.

“Let’s focus on them and adopt the communal way of raising children, which ensured that no one feels neglected as a result of being orphans,’ he said.

He also urged Batswana to vigorously fight stigma to encourage more people to test themselves and get treatment.

Kgosi Mosielele also encouraged men to take the use of condoms very seriously as it could go a long way in reducing new infections.

The candle light commemoration, he highlighted, was the oldest grassroots campaign for HIV/AIDS and is coordinated locally by BONEPWA with the support of the National Aids & Health Promotions Agency (NAHPA).

 The commemoration, he noted, assisted countries to reflect on what needed to be done to end Aids infections and eliminate stigma.

“It also gives us the opportunity to share experiences and re-energize our efforts,” he noted.

On other issues, Kgosi Mosielele asserted that there was need to pay tribute to people living with the disease that had come out openly as they reach out to those who are newly infected.

He called on policy makers to involve people living with HIVAIDS from planning to implementation stages.

Despite withdrawal of funding by international partners, Kgosi Mosielele explained that Batswana should be self-reliant and come up with ways to raise funds to fight the disease.

The rise in new infections, he highlighted, called for the modification of strategies in order to intensify the fight against the disease.

He also called for the scaling up of interventions to prioritise highly vulnerable groups such as orphans, sex workers and people who use drugs.

Meanwhile, BONEPWA board chairperson, Mr Dalton Bontsi highlighted that the commemoration honored and supported the affected through mobilisation and promoting health and dignity.

The candle light commemoration was a grassroots network, which was made up of the infected, affected, women, faith based organisations, academia and media, he said.

Furthermore, he explained that the day was part of the advocacy to improve awareness on HIV/AIDS and the zero Aids infection agenda.

The board chairperson also mentioned that the day also raised social consciousness and focuses on breaking down barriers and stigma.

“We also commemorate those who died and show solidarity, we want to reduce stigma and intend to target key populations and young people,” he noted.

 The guiding principle of the candle light commemoration is dignity, transparency, botho and the rights of those who are affected and infected, he explained. Ends