16 Jul 2020

The National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA) will soon start a faith and community initiative in continued efforts to fight HIV/AIDS.

Briefing Ntlo ya Dikgosi on July 13, NAHPA project manager responsible for education, communication, advocacy division, Ms Elizabeth Koko explained that they had targeted the faith sector to assist in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Ms Koko said the project intended to explain HIV/AIDS to the faith community for epidemic control, adding that 80 per cent of Batswana had some association with faith.

She said they were therefore using the faith community to energise efforts against HIV and AIDS.

She said the church was influential in communities and had a part in implementing and providing assistance as well as in educating people on health matters.

She pointed out that the project would focus on reaching out, especially to men and children living with HIV, particularly in most affected areas.

Furthermore, she said the project was aimed at preventing sexual violence against 9-14 year olds as well as to strengthen justice for children through integration of faith leaders.

For his part, Kgosi Kefitlhile Kgwakgwe of Kanye region, asked that faith based organisations to encourage their members to use protection to stop the spread of HIV.

Kgosi Kgwakgwe said there were some churches that discouraged the use of condoms, leading to HIV being rampant in church.

He called for sensitisation of faith based organisations, their leaders and members. ENDS