02 Sep 2020

Kgalagadi District AIDS Coordinator (DAC), Ms Cathrine Molomo has expressed concern about new HIV infections and teenage pregnancy. 

Speaking during at the launch of month of prayer against HIV and AIDS and COVID – 19 at Rappelspan recently, Ms Molomo said the district had registered 45 cases of teenage pregnancy since the first COVID-19 lock down. 

Ms Molomo said some of the pregnant teenagers tested HIV positive.

 She observed new cases of HIV infection were a concern because  efforts had been made to educate the community on the dangers of HIV/ AIDS.

Ms Molomo also raised concern that some of the teenagers failed to disclose the perpetrators. 

Therefore, the situation called for strategies aimed at engaging the community on issues relating to HIV and AIDS. 

 Ms Molomo said some parents were to blame as they shielded wrongdoers for material and monetary gain and thereby putting their children’s  future in jeopardy.

Ms Molomo said the country had made strides in combating HIV/AIDS, noting with concern that despite the positive campaigns new HIV infections were recorded. 

Therefore, Ms Molomo said an appeal for divine intervention through campaigns such as Month of Prayer against HIV and AIDS and COVID –19 was necessary.

She noted that government continued to show commitment by availing resources for fight HIV/AIDS such as provision for Anti Retro Viral (ARV) drugs to citizens and non-citizens as well as the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of  HIV.

Ms Molomo said the event was aimed at encouraging religious groups to intervene by coming up with strategies to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. 

She said the month’s activities would be commemorated under the theme: God cares and he calms all the pestilences.

She said individuals and communities played an important role in fighting HIV/AIDS, and therefore it was important to avoid risky behaviour that could expose one to HIV.

The District Coordinator said Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) were also a concern in Kgalagadi South. 

She said 3.7 per cent (30 000) of the sub-district population were diagnosed with STIs, adding that it was an indication that people were engaging in unprotected sexual activities and therefore exposing themselves to HIV infection.

Furthermore, Ms Molomo said the district was equally concerned by people who were reluctant to test for HIV. 

She observed that women and the girl-child were victims of gender based violencethat included forced and unprotected sexual encounters exposing them to HIV infection.

Ms Molomo said the UNAIDS 2019, data indicated that the country had 370 000 people living with HIV. 

The statistics further revealed that 20.3 per cent of people in the age category of ages 15 – 49 years were living with HIV.  

Ms Molomo said the survey further reflected that 8 500 new HIV infections were registered and 5 000 HIV/AIDS related deaths.

For her part, Pastor Onicah Lentshikang of the Anglican Church said the word of God had the power to deal with social ills such as HIV/AIDS. 

Pastor Lentshikang said through faith, hope and trust in God, the war against AIDS could be won. 

She emphasised that positive living and abiding by the word of God were central to sustaining lives.

Meanwhile, Kgosi David Matthys of Rappelspan was equally concerned by the rise of incurable diseases. 

Therefore, Kgosi Matthys appealed to the residents to ahere to the guidance of health officials. 

He said the emergence of the COVID–19 pandemic had compelled people to live by the laid down protocols and by so doing adopt the new normal.

He said COVID–19 was more of a threat as it had no boundaries and affected both the young and the old.

Kgosi Matthys advised members of the community to be vigilant at all times to avoid COVID–19 infections. Ends