17 Mar 2014

The 2nd Infantry Brigade Commander, Brigadier Molefi Seikano has urged members of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) to utilise comprehensive HIV programmes that the army offers.

Speaking at the Month of Youth Against AIDS (MYAA) commemoration held at 2nd Military Garrison Sports Ground, Donga recently, Brigadier Seikano said programmes included components of prevention, treatment care and support.

Brigadier Seikano said government has introduced Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) as an add-on strategy thus encouraged young males to effectively utilise it to sustain the momentum of the war against HIV/AIDS.

“It has been discovered that Safe Male Circumcision reduces the chances of HIV transmission by about 60 per cent and I am on that note calling upon all men to take the responsibility of driving this initiative,” said the Brigade Commander.

He however cautioned that SMC will work even better when existing prevention measures such as sticking to one partner, abstinence, consistent proper use of condoms and knowing ones status are continued.

He noted that the health of BDF members was important to the productiveness of the BDF because if they fell victims to HIV/AIDS, the fulfilment of protecting the nation, the country and property cannot be guaranteed.

“Consequently, the BDF has a primary responsibility to keep the military community free from HIV infection and to support those living with HIV/AIDS,” he said.

On the theme of the MYAA, Brigadier Seikano said it directly communicated to the conscience of young people to start doing more than what they have been doing in contributing to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Brigadier Seikano said HIV/AIDS has not only become the most important public health challenge but also threatened future social and economic developments of the country and therefore required active involvement of the youth.

“I strongly believe that everyone, young and old have to be responsible and accountable for the consequences of their lifestyles,” he said.

He implored the youth to desist from activities that can expose them to HIV infection, saying “stop indulging in excessive alcohol, multiple concurrent partnerships, stop dating people who are much older than you and stop accepting goods in exchange for sexual favours.”

Colonel Magosi Moshagane said BDF commemorated MYAA to encourage the youth in army to join the rest of the youth in the fight of HIV/AIDS.

He said the national pillar of healthy nation by 2016 could only be achieved if all the youth also ensured they changed their behaviours, tested and sought medical attention on time.

BDF AIDS Programmes Manager, Lieutenant MacDonald Kgosi said BDF has a high number of youth as categorised by the National Youth Policy and it was therefore imperative that they commemorated MYAA and share HIV/AIDS information as the youth.

He said apart from HIV/AIDS messagestheday was also aimed at giving the BDF community opportunity to test for HIV, diabetes, BP, dental problems and even check their Body Mass Index.

The theme for this year’s MYAA is “Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination and Zero HIV/AIDS related deaths.” ENDS