24 Oct 2013

Kgosi Arnold Somolekae of Broadhurst customary court says cohabitation is one of the issues that contributes to poor health in that the bread winner may infect their partner with HIV and refuse to test.

Speaking at the Botsogo Pitso for Gaborone north clinics on Wednesday, October 21, Kgosi Somolekae said in most cases, when a woman depended solely on a man, it caused problems as that man might dictate the living conditions.

Therefore, he indicated that as the customary court, they encouraged partners to get married rather than raise children out of the wedlock.
He said children were the ones who suffered most whenever cohabiting partners had arguments as they might end up running away from home and live in the streets.

“Children suffer a lot when their mother breaks up with their father because they are used to calling that man their father and his absence may tear their lives apart,” he noted.

Kgosi Somolekae indicated that poor health might also be caused by family members who fight over inheritance that was supposed to go to the deceased’s children, something which he said affected children psychologically.

He further stated that alcohol abuse contributed immensely to HIV/AIDS in that some people indulged in sexual activities without protection after taking alcohol. Kgosi Somolekae cautioned parents against selling drugs to children, adding that these could lead to the deterioration of their health at a young age.

In her remarks, Gaborone north region nurse, Mrs Mothugi Motsamai said their region had started offering the distribution of ARVs at Sebele, Kgatelopele and Broadhurst clinics. The nurse said the distribution of ARVs at their clinics assisted them to get rid of long queues in clinics around Gaborone since some of the Gaborone north clinics were open 24 hours.

She however said, there were services that their clinics were offering which the public never accessed such as the female condom. She said the female condoms were packed in clinics and expire without anyone getting them. She expressed disappointment with patients who did not take their medication as prescribed by medical practitioners and some even go to the extent of throwing away the pills. ENDS