15 Sep 2019

Churches have been urged to take a lead in encouraging people to test for HIV and enroll in the anti-retroviral treatment.

Speaking at the month of prayer against HIV/AIDS event in Gumare recently, BOCAIP official, Mr Letshabamang Morulaganyi, urged churches to desist from misleading people that their faith and prayer would heal HIV/AIDS.

“Pastors should rather be at the forefront in encouraging people to continue with ARV treatment rather than telling them to stop it,” he said.

On one hand, Okavango District AIDS coordinator, Mr Samuel Kenaape, indicated that they continued to realise low HIV testing rate in the area. 

Mr Kenaape said it was important for people to know their status for the country to achieve its goal to have zero new HIV infections.

He also noted that the Okavango Sub-district had about 8 000 people on anti-retroviral treatment.

Thus, he cautioned those on treatment against defaulting medication, indicating that last year alone, Okavango registered 102 ARV defaulters.

Again, he said the district had, since beginning of this year, recorded 2 793 cases of sexually transmitted diseases.

On other issues, Assistant Superintendent Jerry Sabata of Gumare police said they were concerned about the increasing incidents of drinking and driving in the area as well as road accidents.

He indicated that last year, from January to December, they recorded 19 cases of road accidents that involved government vehicles only, while this year, from January to August, they had already recorded 16 incidents of government vehicles involved in road accidents.

On private vehicles, Asst Supt Sabata said 11 cases were recorded this year, while only six were recorded last year.

He, however, pleaded with the community to work together with the police to curb some of the criminal activities prevalent in the area. ends