01 Sep 2020

Botswana Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (BONEPWA) on Monday donated toiletries worth P77 000 to support groups in the North West District.

The donations included 70 boxes of bar soaps and 200 boxes of bleach.

BONEPWA coordinator for North West District, Mr Gosalamang Xaa, said the donation was meant to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the district.

He reiterated that HIV and AIDS, coupled with COVID-19, continued to pose serious socio-economic and health challenges for people living with HIV/AIDS, therefore it was important to give them support.

He said they received donations from the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) as a way of supporting BONEPWA mandate of enhancing the quality of life for people living with HIVAIDS.

BONEPWA community health worker, Ms Gaone Mokwatso, said the North West District was highly impacted by the pandemic since most of its residents worked in the tourism sector, which retrenched most of its employees.

Ms Mokwatso applauded UNAIDS for enabling them to perform their obligation of providing a friendly atmosphere to address the needs of people in a holistic manner as well as strengthen linkages between prevention, care and support services. ENDs