12 Nov 2019

Limkokwing University of Creative Technology on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BOCAIP.

Limkokwing vice chancellor, Dr Gape Kaboyakgosi said true empowerment of young people, which is one of the university’s philosophies, does not only empower students in the learning aspect, but equips them with skills to deal with the silent epidemics that eat away at young people, which are alcohol and drug abuse, HIV/AIDS and unhealthy relationships that end up destroying their lives. 

That is why it is important for Limkokwing to partner with BOCAIP to tackle all the problems and challenges facing students, he said.

BOCAIP chief executive officer, Ms Lorato Mphusu said the partnership would help the university, not only to produce creative and innovative graduates, but also to have healthy young people who can serve in the work place and enjoy their education for a long time.

She further said for students to make the right choices regarding their sexual lives, as they are going to be reproducing, having families and managing lots of things, they should be mentally and physically healthy.

“HIV is a problem in our country, that is why BOCAIP introduced pastoral and spiritual care or support to involve everyone in curbing new HIV infections.

Young people are getting infected at an alarming rate and the MoU will help BOCAIP to implement what is agreed on,” she said.

She also said there must be a multi-sectoral approach to fighting the scourge, thus encouraging churches, training institutions, dikgosi and everyone to participate equally in ending new HIV infections.

Ms Mphusu said every week, 62 new HIV infections are registered, particularly among young girls and young women, which is a concern.

“As our population is very small, we cannot afford people with incurable disease within their system; young girls and women are the most affected whereas they are the ones that will bear children and reproduce in future,” she said.

 She further said BOCAIP had been around for 23 years and was a well experienced professional organisation when it comes to offering HIV/AIDS and other health services.

Limkokwing University vice president, Mr Cipack Maphosa said the university and BOCAIP had directed their focus and expertise on the provision of HIV prevention, care and support services to the university community for years and now it was time to strengthen cooperation and enhance health policy dialogue.

Mr Maphosa said the university was facing complex challenges that had profound implications on students and staff and also struggled with issues of HIV/AIDS, drug and alcohol abuse as well as unplanned pregnancies amongst the student community.

“Because of the support the university has from various organisations including BOCAIP, we have managed to fight these monsters which threaten to annihilate students.

The belief is that strengthening this partnership, which started in 2015, together we will win the fight and be sure of the victory, not only for our current student community, but for future,” he said.

He said the university pledged to offer BOCAIP pre-planned and agreed spaces within the campus to provide HIV testing and counselling services to both students and staff and to also mobilise without coercing the students and Limkokwing University community to utilise BOCAIP services and give its staff opportunities to offer their services outside normal working hours, including testing in the evening in order to reach the difficult-to-reach clients.

Mr Maphosa said the best thing that BOCAIP needed was to be given opportunities to offer and avail its services in institutions, lamenting that some institutions denied them the opportunities.

Limkokwing is the seventh institution of higher learning in Botswana to sign an MoU with BOCAIP. ENDS