09 Sep 2026

The North West region has recorded an impressive 98 per cent HIV viral suppression rate among diagnosed patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Giving an update on the district’s HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases situation during a combined church service held at Maun Main Kgotla, Principal Registered Nurse from Primary Health, Ms Neo Kokomoga, said 16 161 people were registered on the ARV programme.

She said women constituted the majority of those on treatment, while 5,560 were men and 59 were children below the age of 12.

She expressed concern over the low uptake of HIV testing services among men, encouraging them to know their HIV status to enable them to protect their health, access early treatment and prevent transmission to their partners.

To further curb HIV transmission, she said the Ministry of Health had introduced additional prevention programmes, including Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and emergency Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), which reduce the risk of HIV infection.

Ms Kokomoga also expressed concern over the low uptake of voluntary medical male circumcision, saying this slowed progress in reducing HIV transmission and other sexually transmitted infections.

She encouraged men to come forward and take advantage of the programme. On Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT), Ms Kokomoga said the district had made significant strides, reporting that no baby born under the programme had tested positive for HIV. She commended mothers for their commitment to eliminating mother-to-child transmission. Turning to non-communicable diseases, Ms Kokomoga said cancer remained a major concern, with cases on the rise. She said some clinics had been identified where members of the community could undergo screening for early detection.

“Early cancer detection significantly increases the chances of successful treatment and can save lives. I encourage all to visit identified health facilities to undergo some tests,” she said.

Meanwhile, Chaplain Lieutenant Jeremiah Nelson of the Botswana Defence Force said gender-based violence remained a concern, noting that men statistically accounted for the majority of perpetrators. He urged men to desist from violence, saying it violated fundamental principles of respect and safety within relationships and families.

Lieutenant Nelson described abusive behaviour as a failure of moral responsibility and personal character, encouraging men experiencing pressure to seek assistance rather than resorting to violence. He noted that cultural expectations that men should be tough and emotionally restrained could sometimes make it difficult for them to speak out about abuse.

He urged men to speak against gender-based violence and report their experiences, stressing that seeking help was not a sign of weakness. ends