15 Mar 2020

Young people of today are part of the population that is most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, especially the girl child. 

Speaking during the Month of Youth Against AIDS  (MYAA) commemoration at Sekhutlane recently,  the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Setlhabelo Modukanele said HIV/AIDS prevalence was made worse  by the high rate of teenage pregnancy, which resulted from having unprotected sex.

He said statistics had shown 117 teenage pregnancy cases in Sekhutlane during the financial year 2019/2020.

Mr Modukanele noted that 6 015 people in the Good Hope Sub-district tested for HIV and the majority that tested were females at 4 069 or 68 per cent.

He said the sub-district’s HIV prevalence stood at 20.3 per cent with females mostly affected at 25.7 per cent while their male counterparts had a prevalence rate of 8.9 per cent as per the BAIS IV, 2013.

Mr Modukanele, therefore, urged Sekhutlane community to strengthen their partnership with the government in HIV and AIDS interventions and in addressing other youth social ills such as stigma, discrimination and defaulting of ARV treatment. 

He also indicated that passion killings, alcohol and drug abuse were a challenge in the area.

In view of the Month of Youth Against AIDS  activities that begun in Sekhutlane, he expressed hope on the insightful discussions that would equip the youth with relevant life skills.

“The expectation by the government is that during this month, young people, in collaboration with various partners, hold HIV/AIDS sensitisation, community mobilisation and outreach, and advocacy campaigns throughout the country,” he said. 

However, Mr Modukanele indicated that despite significant progress in HIV treatment, coverage for pregnant women, children, and people living with HIV, urgent attention was still needed to reach young people.

According to Mr Modukanele, the commendable efforts made by the government in fighting HIV/AIDS pandemic in communities included, among others, the Communities Acting Together to control HIV (CATCH) model. Ends