Men, youth still gun-shy on HIV tests
Pini Bothoko | Thursday April 20, 2017 17:01
Health and Wellness minister, Dorcas Makgato said the trend was derailing the fight against the pandemic.
Speaking on Tuesday evening during an event for UNAIDS and the 90-90-90 treatment campaign, Makgato said men and the youth were the demographics least involved in testing and knowing their status.
The 90-90-90 initiative states: By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status. By 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained Antiretroviral therapy. By 2020, 90% of all people receiving Antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.
Makgato said since the inception of the 90-90-90 initiative in Botswana three years ago, the country had made a significant admirable efforts compared to other countries in fighting the war against HIV/AIDS.
“Our statistics speak for themselves and I am hopeful we will be able to achieve the 90-90-90 target. However, I am still worried that behavioural change towards testing and knowing one’s status is still a challenge as men and young people constitute the highest number of people who are not testing for HIV,” Makgato said.
She said people who come for testing in high numbers are mostly women and older people, stating that there should be a change of mentality when it comes to matters to do with health.
“Men and young people need to change their behaviour when it comes to their health. It’s up to them to change their ways,” Makgato said.
The minister however praised the government’s endless efforts, commitment and support towards ending the HIV pandemic.
“Since the leadership of the former President Festus Mogae to date Government has been investing a lot of funds in fighting the spread of the virus. I am happy that to date we have achieved a lot towards the 90-90-90 initiative,” Makgato said.
She however raised concern over the alarming rate of infections of Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STDs), which are contributor to the spread of HIV.
Makgato pleaded for more support from UNAIDS stating that Government alone could not win the battle to end HIV. “Government alone cannot win this fight and we need partners,” she said.
“We know that there are changing policies and other things like the change of governance amongst countries that have been helping us with funds which might affect our plan to reach the 90-90-90 targets and therefore we are pleading for help.”