08 Sep 2019

Participants at the just-ended National Aids and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA) consultative Pitso have been applauded for their contribution towards HIV and NCD’s prevention in the country.

NAHPA National Coordinator, Mr Richard Matlhare commended the participants during the consultative Pitso in Francistown on September 6.

The pitso was held under the theme; Leveraging on Community Structures to Tackle NCD’s and HIV for a Healthy Botswana.”

However, the National Coordinator said that implementation, actualisation and execution were still hindering factors towards accomplishing the nation’s goal of having zero infections by 2020.

“We need to walk the talk,” he said.

He said urged participants to give priority to the campaigns which had more impact in promoting a healthy Botswana.

Mr Matlhare also encouraged the participants to share information and educate others who did not attend the Pitso, saying that it was a battle for all and the responsibility for every Motswana to fight against HIV.

Francistown District Health Management Team (DHMT) matron, Ms Portia Mgadla said prevention was beneficial hence need to first solve problems at ground level to attain zero infections by 2020.

Ms Mgadla said as health workers they had observed that in Francistown, lack of sex education at homes was among the leading factors contributing to the prevalence of HIV adding that gone were the days when issues about sex were kept a secret, away from the children.

She further said intergenerational sexual relationships, lack of parental guidance and transactional sex were other factors contributing to the rise of HIV in the city and the nation at large.

“Lack of community knowledge about smoking and abusive acts contributes to NCDs. I, therefore, appeal to the government to reinforce the laws relating to smoking in Botswana,” she said.

The City of Francistown, District Commissioner, Ms Chabongwa Matseka urged participants to enhance their work upon return to their areas.

“We are torch bearers and it is now our responsibility to show light to those who could not be present with us,” she added.

The District Commissioner said the Pitso gave them an opportunity to introspect on how they as stakeholders had performed in the fight against HIV and NCD’s.

Furthermore, Ms Matseka cautioned parents against neglecting their children who are in higher education levels, saying that this was part of the reason some children ended up engaging in social ills. ENDS