12 Feb 2020

A Faith and Community Initiative Project will be officially launched in Botswana on Sunday as part of build-up to the International AIDS Day  on December 1.

The First Lady Neo Masisi, Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane and United States ambassador, Mr Craig Cloud are expected to be amongst the dignitaries who will grace the official launch billed for Mahalapye show grounds.

Speaking in an interview, local organising committee chairperson, Pastor Bakae Makgana, said the initiative was a collaboration between the government, through National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency and the United States of America government, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. 

“The intention is to learn, and share best practices, from Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) and to ensure the entire village leadership, such as Dikgosi and members of the community play a meaningful role in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Our main concern is that men and boys are still lagging behind in testing for HIV/AIDS,” he said.

Pastor Makgana explained that the national launch would be in Mahalapye, because this year International AIDS Day commemoration would be held in Mahalapye, adding that “this will be a build up towards that commemoration.” 

The intention, he said, was to join efforts in the fight against HIVAIDS,  FBOs, community members, dikgosi and faith leaders. 

Mahalapye District Health Management Team public relations officer, Ms Pauline Bontle, also expressed concern that men and boys were testing for HIV at low numbers, compared to females. 

She said this posed a problem in the fight against HIV/AIDS, as they ended up not taking treatment, because they do not know their status.

As part of the build-up activities to the official launch, Ms Bontle said there would be a Youth Pitso and Men Pitso at Mahalapye Hospital on February 11 and 12, 2020, respectively, as well as a debate on HIV/AIDS issues at Madiba Senior Secondary School on February 11, 2020. Ends