20 Feb 2020

Faith leaders have been urged to exercise their influence over men to encourage them to test for HIV.

Botswana Christian AIDS Intervention Programme (BOCAIP) chief executive officer, Ms Bridget Mphusu said it was the responsibility of faith leaders to help reduce the HIV prevalence rate by encouraging men to know their HIV status.

She was speaking during a two-day workshop under the Faith Community Initiative (FCI) project attended by Francistown and Tutume pastors held in Botswana’s second city on February 19.

Ms Mphusu said since pastors were aware of issues surrounding their communities, they should  preach more about HIV prevention, both in church and community meetings.

Giving welcome remarks, Francistown mayor and also Satellite South councillor Mr Godisang Radisigo said the 12-month initiative drew upon the influence and wisdom of faith and community leaders to address two priorities - reaching men and children as well as strengthening justice for children.

FCI partners, he explained, would communicate key messages  of hope for sharing with specific audiences,

The messages should be designed to recognise the power and influence of mothers to encourage their adult children to seek HIV testing and treatment as well as to be champions of justice for young children, he said.

Mr Radisigo said faith leaders were key partners in identifying specific populations and persons without access to health services such as men, youths and other communities.

He said churches, as the tributaries, would be expected to emphasise awareness, preach abstinence and prevention, promote HIV testing and linkages to Anti-Retroviral Therapy as well as provide spiritual support.

He pleaded with all pastors to take responsibility for preventing new infections, caring for the infected by not discriminating against them and protecting the youth.

For her part, district AIDS coordinator, Ms Elizabeth Wright said planning the district-level response to HIV/AIDS was a challenge  as most people who  test  for the virus were not Francistown residents.

She said the HIV prevalence rate in the city had increased from 23.1 per cent in 2008 to 24.3 per cent.

Ms Wright said females were the most  infected at 56 per cent compared to 36.6 per cent of men.

The coordinator lamented that  partner testing was still at a low percentage.

BOCAIP programmes manager, Ms Bonolo Kelefang said the workshop was intended to empower faith leaders with HIV messages to be integrated into the daily pastoral ministry.

She said it was also meant to reduce stigmatisation and discrimination associated with HIV and promote adherence to treatment.

Furthermore, she said it also focused on engaging faith leaders in raising awareness, creating demand for HIV testing as well as ARV uptake among men and children. ENDs