HIV/AIDS remains a health crisis in Francistown
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday September 22, 2025 08:44
According to the Francistown District Health Management Team (DHMT) community health nurse Johnson Taruvinga, speaking during a Botswana Business Coalition on Aids (BBCA) forum, widespread dispersion of viral lineage suggests significant population-level movements, which could include migration to and from areas surrounding the city, and influence the spread of HIV.
He said that the second city is home to many people who come from surrounding villages and neighboring countries like Zambia and Zimbabwe. Therefore, there is a lot of daily movement between these countries as people cross borders to buy stock and seek opportunities.
According to Taruvinga, the movement, bringing together people from different countries and cultures, creates a fertile environment for the exchange of sexual favours and possible transmission of STIs, including HIV.
He also indicated that women and girls in urban areas may experience higher rates of sexual harassment and gender-based violence (GBV), putting them at greater risk of HIV.
Taruvinga noted that the prevalence of HIV in Francistown is reported to be high, with a 2022 Botswana survey indicating a 22.6% prevalence rate among adults aged 15 to 64 in Francistown.
'More recent figures from 2023 suggest that 19.1% of Francistown's population, approximately 22,682 people, were living with HIV and undergoing treatment,' he continued.
He encouraged the community to come forward in large numbers for testing, especially men, as few of them visit health facilities and get tested for HIV.
Taruvinga noted that women use healthcare facilities more and live longer because they are diagnosed early, thereby receiving timely treatment. Generally, there has been a decrease in the number of people getting tested for HIV, he added.
There has been an increase in the rate of positive results, from 1.8% in the previous quarter to 2.4% in the current quarter. He expressed appreciation for the leadership's plan to provide much-needed drugs, hoping there won't be any disruptions in patient regimens, as a lack of drugs can create resistance.
Regarding the Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) program, Taruvinga indicated that there are currently 22,182 patients on treatment, with 7,921 men and 14,261 women. Of these, 141 clients were enrolled for ART this quarter, of which 43 were men and 98 were women. Taruvinga reported that 18 HIV-positive clients died while on ART this quarter, 11 men and seven women.
He highlighted that 1,178 HIV-positive patients were lost to follow-up this quarter, of which 540 were men and 638 women.
According to the community health nurse, being lost to follow-up or lack of contact can occur for many reasons, such as a patient's inability to be traced, moving away from the site, opting out of care, or even death.
He emphasised that once individuals test positive, they should adhere to treatment.
'HIV is not a death sentence, but it is a disease like any other. We can live positively with it. Let's take drugs as prescribed, and this will ensure longevity among HIV-infected individuals.'
Taruvinga indicated that they educate their clients to notify clinics if they move to new sites so they can be referred for continued care.
He also stressed the importance of HIV-positive individuals informing their partners, new or old, of their status to curb the spread of HIV.
He mentioned that Francistown is not spared from STIs, with a significant number of cases reported.
During April, May, and June, Taruvinga said they recorded 1,509 cases of vaginal discharge, 927 cases of urethral discharge, 253 cases of genital ulcers, 304 cases of lower abdominal pain, and seven cases of genital warts.
He noted a slight decrease in STI cases compared to the previous quarter.
Taruvinga advocates for prevention of STIs through abstinence, consistent and correct condom use, faithfulness, and sticking to one partner.
He warned that complications of untreated STIs can be severe, including infertility, ectopic pregnancies, and cervical cancer.
He highlighted that contact tracing rates are low, at 23.6%, with 76.4% of contacts not being treated.
Furthermore, Taruvinga mentioned that teenage pregnancy remains a problem in Francistown, currently standing at 9.4%.
As part of the prevention program, Taruvinga stated that they are teaching young people about the dangers of teenage pregnancy and empowering them with safe sex negotiation skills.
Taruvinga expressed concern that the community often supports perpetrators of statutory rape, allowing them to go unpunished.