19 Feb 2014

Men should think beyond their current life challenges to make right choices and decisions that will shape their future positively, says the Jwaneng  Men’s Sector Sub-committee chairperson.

 Mr Odirile Mabaila said men should avoid risky behaviours such as domestic violence, partner killings, smoking, alcohol and substance abuse as well as having multiple sexual partners.

The chairperson was speaking at the Men’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Workshopin Jwaneng recently. The workshop was attended by men aged 40 years and above from various organisations in Jwaneng,

Topics, which were presented and discussed included erectile dysfunction contribution to poor sexual health and sexual violence, which attracted questions and comments from most of the men.  Other presentations were on Safe Male Circumcision, chronic illnesses, TB and HIV co-infection and sexual transmitted infections.

Mr Mabaila, who is also the deputy town clerk, said men should make sound decisions regarding their health and wellness, adding that men’s sector committees were collapsing because men did not participate fully.

Concerning the overview of the men’s sector sub -committee, the vice chairperson Mr Nkaelang Lekgoa said the committee advocated and mobilised male involvement in the AIDS prevention and care, adding that it also advocated for conducive environment for male involvement.

Mr Lekgoa stated that the committee also educated men on gender issues, imparting skills to assist in addressing gender inequality and gender stereotypes. He said men’s behavior put women at risky because most men head families.

On another issue he said Jwaneng committee faced challenges such as low participation by men and limited resources to implement plans.

 Presenting on erectile dysfunction which contributed to poor sexual health and sexual violence, Dr Thabo Phologolo said family units collapsed due to partners not satisfying each other, adding that some even revert to using some unhelpful concoctions in order to deal with their erectile dysfunction.

Dr Phologolo told the participants that sexual dysfunction was usually caused by boredom, lack of physical attraction more especially where the other partner was gaining weight, history of sexual abuse, arousal disorders and diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, injuries, prostate cancer and negative effect.

He advised that people should always seek medical assistance rather than using unhelpful concoctions which could harm them.

Another presenter on HIV/AIDS and STIs prevention, Dr Banza Maloba appreciated the workshop which attracted men especially because men were the ones who controlled the families and sexual activities mostly. Dr Maloba said health professionals preach daily about HIV/AIDS yet infections were increasing. BOPA