11 Mar 2020

A nurse at Masunga Primary Hospital, Mr Phemelo Kelebeletse, has called on couples to test for diseases together saying studies have shown that doing so strengthen relationships.

Mr Kelebeletse said this at a recent North East District men’s conference in Masunga.

He said it was wrong for men to rely on the results of their partners.

According to Mr Kelebeletse, few men who got tested for HIV tested positive compared to women.

He said for instance that in one of the previous campaigns where a total of 25 people, five men and 20 females came for testing, four men tested positive while five women tested positive.

He said it was upon this background that the Ministry of Health and Wellness had embarked on a campaign to have men test for HIV in large numbers by coming up with interventions that allowed for people to test in their own space, away from the prying eyes of the public.

Furthermore, Mr Kelebeletse expressed concern that STI infections were soaring in Masunga with the primary hospital recording 25 to 30 cases every week.

North East District AIDS coordinator, Mr Chris Moseki, pleaded with men to take responsibility and stop gender based violence (GBV).

The onus, he said, was upon men to deliberate on issues of sexuality on platforms such as the men’s conference with a view to come up with solutions that would ensure they peacefully co-existed with their female counterparts.

“It is saddening that every time there was murder, it would be a man who had committed the wicked act,” he said.

Mr Moseki commended all the committees who were actively involved in bringing change in the society. Ends