08 Jun 2022

The preliminary results of the fifth Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS V) indicates that Chobe district needs to put more effort on HIV testing.

Speaking at the candle light memorial service for the district on June 5, the assistant District AIDS coordinator, Mr Ntungamile Durban said according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) target 95:95:95 for Testing, Antiretroviral therapy (ART) and Viral suppression the district scored only 86 per cent in testing.

Mr Durban said in ART, the district surpassed the 95 per cent target and scored 97 per cent while in viral suppression it scored 90 per cent. He explained that the statistics indicated that more should be done on testing and ensuring adherence to the ART. Mr Durban encouraged the community to go for testing and continue taking HIV/AIDS issues seriously as it was either one is infected or affected.

Giving a keynote address, Prophet Norman Gabadise of Disciples of All Nations Ministries said the theme, “We remember, we take action, we live beyond HIV”, was a call on all stakeholders to act towards the formulation and implementation of change behaviour strategies.

He said change behaviour strategies included the reduction of the numbers of sexual partners, an increase in condom usage and delayed age of first sexual encounter by the youth.

Prophet Gabadise noted that if all could remember how HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 had impacted the livelihoods and the country’s economy, they should be better positioned to take action that would help beyond the pandemics.

He called on all Christians to re-enforce their efforts in providing counselling, care and social support as orphan care and home based care programmes could function optimally if all could join hands and adopt the programmes as their own.

Prophet Gabadise appreciated all who worked tirelessly to help families in their distress and assisted in reducing HIV/AIDS stigma. He commended all who contributed to the success of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) because despite the high HIV prevalence rate among the pregnant women, no child was born HIV positive.

He said BAIS V indicated that the HIV prevalence rate in Chobe was 17 per cent and the most affected were females, adding that could be a result of many factors such unequal power in relationships.

Prophet Gabadise said there was a clear connection between Gender Based Violence and HIV/AIDS. Earlier, Botswana Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (BONEPWA) coordinator, Ms Josephine Piet said in Chobe there was a challenge of lack of participation in HIV/AIDS support groups by the community.

She indicated that if the community was reluctant to stand for their rights it was going to be difficult to end stigma and discrimination. Kgosi Thuso Wasetso said with the introduction of the ART, the situation of HIV/AIDS related deaths had improved, adding that this should be a motivation to those who were on treatment to take their medication as prescribed.

Kgosi Wasetso pleaded with all stakeholders to join hands with government to end HIV/AIDS and to continue adhering to COVID-19 protocols.  ENDS