09 Sep 2020

Lobatse constituency has been showered with praises for good performance in terms of government programmes geared at fighting HIV/AIDS.

Speaking September 8 during the launch of month of prayer against HIV/AIDS in Lobatse, area MP and Minister of Finance and Economic

Development Dr Thapelo Matsheka said the good performance was shown by recent figures indicating the district recorded zero transmission rate of HIV from mother to child.

According to the district’s health programmes report for the final quarter of 2019/20 financial year and the first quarter of 2020/21, none of the 131 infants born to mothers on PMTCT in the district between January and June tested positive for HIV.

“We are making a lot of progress because we are one of the places with low figures for transmission of the virus from mother to child. It shows that our programmes are performing well,” he said.

He said the district was also performing well in terms of the Anti-Retro Viral Therapy (ARVs) programme through which HIV positive people were given free drugs.

According to the report, the district recorded eight deaths from a total of 5 804 people enrolled on the ARV programme by the end of March.

It says the district had achieved a viral load suppression rate of 99.6 per cent.

However, the district also reported challenges including ARV shortages. Dr Matsheka reminded the community that, despite the good performance of HIV/AIDS programmes, stopping the spread of HIV remained everyone’s  responsibility.

He thanked the Lobatse Ministers Fraternal for organising the launch and candlelight commemoration in remembrance of HIV/AIDS victims.

The month of prayer was started in September 1996 and has since been held annually to provide a forum for communities to stand in unity and pray for the HIV/AIDS situation in Botswana. ENDS