23 May 2023

International AIDS candle light commemorations provide a platform for people to reflect on what has been achieved in the fight to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS since 1985.

Nkange Member of Parliament, Dr Never Tshabang said such commemorations were also meant to remember  those who had lost their lives to the pandemic and to allow the community to show solidarity and support for people living with HIV.

Dr Tshabang who was speaking at the international AIDS candle light memoral event in Tutume on Sunday, said people should recommit themselves to work together towards ending HIV/AIDS as a public threat by 2030.

He cited as challenges faced by people living with HIV, the persistent stigma and discrimination, which had resulted in people feeling ashamed and isolated.

Dr Tshabang said the stigma ended up preventing individuals from seeking treatment, care and support they needed.

People living with HIV/AIDS, he said, deserved to live in a world free from stigma and discrimination, where everyone was valued and respected and given the space to participate in a society and feel important and worthy.

He called upon people to act in earnest against the disease and desist from stigmatising and discriminating those living with HIV/AIDS.

Dr Tshabang said there was an outcry that men were reluctant to test or seek medical treatment hence he urged them to take personal responsibility for their health to test for HIV and other ailments.

Furthermore, he urged those who had tested to be faithful and use condoms correctly and consistently.

The legislator also called upon parents to be honest with their children and educate them about HIV/AIDS and prevention methods.

He however urged government to train teachers to enable them to assist and support children on treatment because children spent lot of time in schools.

‘’Educate them on counselling to be able to address stigma and discrimination among peers,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Tutume District AIDS coordinator Mr Austin Motsamai said over the past years several innovative prevention strategies for HIV infections had been tried.

He said the district continued to register cases of sexually transmitted diseases each year, which contributed to the high number of HIV infections.

Mr Motsamai said they targeted to test 20 000 people for HIV, but only 12 988 turned up with majority being women.

The Tutume district, he said, faced many challenges, such as the high number of teenage pregnancies, with 274 cases registered since last year April while defilement cases stood at 85.

He urged all stakeholders to help in the fight against child abuse.

Commemorated under the theme: Spread Love and Solidarity to Build Stronger Communities, the international AIDS candle light memorial event was coordinated by the Botswana Network of People

Living with HIV/AIDS in partnership with National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency. ENDS