01 Dec 2013

Men have been challenged to stay free of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Speaking during a Men Sector football finals in Tsabong on Novemberb 29, the assistant district commissioner, Peggy Kutlase called on men to reduce the number of STIs and to curb multiple concurrent partnerships.

Kutlase also appealed to men to desist from being tempted to fall in love with school going teenagers as they were still young to make informed decisions on sexual matters.

“Teenage pregnancy rate continues to rise every year in Tsabong Sub-district which means an increasing number of youth are engaging in unprotected sexual activity at an early age and that makes them prone not only to teenage pregnancy but also to STIs and HIV,” she noted. 

According to the DHMT report for 2013/13 about 1803 new cases of STIs were recorded, which the report described as alarming "since STIs especially ulcerative ones facilitate easy transmission of HIV."

The tournament, which was branded STIs and Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission, also campaigned  against all district and national prioritized HIV/AIDS related issues.

The campaign sought to, inter alia, increase HIV testing uptake for both sexes and hence the netball-soccer tournament as the duo are very popular sporting codes. Meanwhile, Central Transport Organisation- Tsabong scooped first position in soccer tournament after walloping Kgalagadi District Council by 3-1 at a fairly attended final. 

The winners walked away with a floating trophy, gold medals and a kit though they were yet to be presented with it. The Kgalagadi District Council  team settled for silver medals and a kit too.

Botswana Defence Force humbled Botswana Prisons Service- Tsabong with two goals to nought  to collect to the barracks some bronze medals.Ends