Month of Youth Against AIDS: what does it mean for Phikwe?

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Friday March 5, 2010 00:00

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.'

They also visit drinking holes to address patrons on HIV and alcohol issues. 'We have also visited schools and tertiary institutions to speak to the students about behaviour change,' he says.

He notes that since they started visiting learning centres, some students are now volunteering in their programme. The youthful leader says because most women do not have money, they often depend on men for survival and are compelled to engage in unprotected sex in order to earn money.

Keabetswe says some parents encourage MCPs because they benefit from the set-up. He complained that they have a problem with the distribution of the female condom because the supplier is failing them while the population is interested in using it. 'We encourage couples to test together and am happy to say that couples are testing in high numbers,' he says.

Men, Sex and AIDS Project Coordinator, Gaolatheope Gadisi, says some people hide behind culture, but people must realise the risk they are putting themselves in. The Botswana National Youth Council officer in Selebi-Phikwe, Chawa Mukokomani, says there is no entertainment for the youth in Selebi-Phikwe, compelling them to seek it in bars.

'There must be youth exchange programmes from other areas so that they can learn from each other,' she says. 'We have held capacity building workshops for the youth of this town where we told them what they should expect in life.'