22 Aug 2013

Francistown mayor, Mr James Kgalajwe, says HIV counselling and testing helps people know their status and seek early medical help.

Giving a key note address at the Francistown College of Education (FCE) launch of HIV testing campaign and wellness peer educators on Wednesday, Cllr Kgalajwe said the launch encouraged young people and fellow citizens to seek HIV counselling and testing. He said it would also assist the community and the college to gather the correct information on correct and consistent HIV and AIDS prevention methods.

The launch also challenged and motivated students and the college employees to learn and adopt attitudes, thoughts, behaviours and life styles that prevented new HIV infections.

He noted that throughout the launch, students and the entire tertiary schools` community would be motivated to adapt to safer sex practices and access to HIV counselling and testing services, which would be done by Tebelopele Counselling and Testing Centre and Botswana Defence Force.

Cllr Kgalajwe stated that through the national drive towards zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths, every Motswana would have to play an active role in ways that would help meet the goal.

He encouraged everyone to be role models by accessing services that promote HIV prevention and healthy lifestyles among young Batswana. Furthermore, the mayor noted that the national prevalence rate of HIV was 17.6 per cent, meaning that almost 18 per cent of Batswana were HIV positive and that one out of four sexually active Batswana is HIV positive.

He said statistics revealed that the fight against HIV and AIDS was challenging and worrisome. He called on young Batswana to adopt ways of preventing further spread so as to secure the future of the nation. The mayor motivated those who graced the launch to change the image of Botswana by subscribing to positive behaviour that promoted prevention of the transmission of HIV.

Furthermore, he urged men to go for Safe Male Circumcision so to assist the Ministry of Health reach its target of circumcised man and reduce spread of sexually transmitted illnesses. A peer educator, Mr Moji Tatedi, said men had to be reminded to play their pivotal role in building the society and this would only be achieved if love was practiced in families.

 He spoke of cultural norms that inhibit husbands from expressing their love towards their wives – and they should be stopped. Mr Tatedi encouraged men to visit counselling centres and clinics together with their wives because this would help bond the marriage and stop anything that could weaken it.

Furthermore, he said, husbands should assist their wives with home chores such as tending to children when their wives are busy.  ENDS