Recent figures from the national prevalence survey revealed that 26.5 percent of adults in Selebi-Phikwe were living with HIV, compared to a national rate of 17.6 percent. Half of the men and women aged between 31 to 49 years here are infected. The Population Services International (PSI) project leader working with Men, Sex and AIDS in Selebi-Phikwe, Dikgang Keabetswe, says they have realised that some of the drivers of HIV/AIDS here are alcohol abuse and multiple concurrent partners (MCPs). Men, Sex and AIDS is a PSI-supported local organisation that deals with condom distribution, multiple concurrent partners and community mobilisation on the effects of alcohol abuse.
"We realised that to be able to carry the HIV message across, we have to come up with activities that attract large numbers of people," says Keabetswe. "That is why we recently held a soccer tournament in different locations of this town in which 16 teams took part. I believe we achieved our aim because many people attended."
