HIV infections still a headache in S/Phikwe

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Tuesday December 20, 2011 00:00

 

Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs) remain a serious problem in the district. The leadership of the town including the traditional ones are finding it hard to point out what could be causing this soaring problem.

Selebi-Phikwe is one of the hardest hit areas in Botswana. Currently the infection rate stands at 26.5 percent. The infection rate is high amongst females and it stands at 31.2 percent and at 26.5 percent among males.

In 2010, a study that was conducted by DAMSAC in Selebi-Phikwe revealed that STIs are among the top reasons why people visit health centres. The study revealed that there were 6,992 new STIs.

Speaking during the commemoration of AIDS Day at Botshabelo Kgotla last week Thursday, the district coordinator, Lamech Myengwa, said the number of people taking condoms is high but it does not mean these people are using them. If they were, the number of STI infections would have been low.

Myengwa stated that his office deals with behavioural change but it is hard to say that they have made in-roads because people take time to change. He encouraged members of the public to stay away from drugs and alcohol abuse because they have an input in the spread of the virus.

Mmegi took to the streets of Selebi-Phikwe to hear what members of the public think what is causing the increase of the pandemic.

Molochwa Nthara (27) said the virus is spreading at an alarming rate because there are more men than women in Selebi-Phikwe. Adding that the set up of the town from the beginning was mainly comprised of men.  He mentioned that most of the women are also unemployed and men use their financial power to dictate how they should have sex.

He observed that some men might decide to have unprotected sex and their women do not have a say on the matter.

Susan Phakedi (35) said the spreading of the virus could be attributed to the attitudes that people have.

'Some people believe that they cannot get the virus. They overlook things like someone's past and taking things at face value.  He/she doesn't not look like they are infected and in some instances it is because of over-trusting our partners,' she said.

She said there are some people who do not care anymore. 'Now we have women who are actually bitter and using their looks and men's weaknesses to spread the virus. A man would never pass a chance to have unprotected sex, even to a stranger in a club restroom,' added Phakedi.

She stated that people have access to condoms but they decide otherwise. Meanwhile, the Academy of Educational Development (AED) conducted a study together with Tebelopele Voluntary Testing Centre in Selebi-Phikwe and it showed that 8.5 percent of the sexual couples that were interviewed were not in exclusive relationships.

The percentage of those that are cohabiting stood at 22.2 percent and 25.6 percent of the married couples engage in unprotected sex, the study revealed.  It also showed that 7.5 percent of the residents of Selebi-Phikwe who were interviewed have more than one partner.