Delegates discuss new HIV prevention plan

GALE NGAKANE
Correspondent | Thursday July 10, 2008 00:00

 

The meeting was opened by Tati Town Customary Court president, Margaret Mosojane who said despite efforts to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, a lot is still to be done to intervene in order to achieve the aim of Zero Infection by the year 2016.

She said that although there are gains in the fight against AIDS, there are cultural and attitudinal issues, which remain insurmountable.

'Batswana have a saying 'ke ingwaela seso same' (I scratch my own sore), and this is not helpful in preventing the spread of the disease. I have been a first hand witness to a 19-year-old girl having three children with three different men. How is that possible? They (such girls) succumb to the demands of the men who would say: 'I have built you a house', 'I bought you food and toiletry' or 'I give you money'.

For as long as we have these problems, our gains will always be reversed,' said Mosojane who implored the participants to pay close attention to the problems she mentioned.

When he took to the podium, NACA's behavoural change communication consultant Richard Matlhare preached a message of hope especially when he displayed the chart, which indicated how HIV/AIDS prevalence among the youth is declining.

'It is possible to have an HIV/AIDS free generation by 2016 looking at the figures,' he said. His argument is borne out of the fact that for the 15-19 year-olds, HIV/AIDS figures have declined to 17 percent by 2007 as compared to 32 percent in 1995.

The Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) services now cover 97 percent of the population with a possibility of the figure increasing.

Matlhare is upbeat that given the fact that 83 percent of the 15-19 year olds are HIV negative, there is every reason to believe there will be an HIV/AIDS free generation by 2016.

The National Operational Plan for Scaling Up HIV Prevention in Botswana: 2008 - 2010 also dubbed 'Thebe le Segai' (Shield and Spear), has a total budget of over $102 million. Indications are that a large chunk of the budget will go towards communication, as it appears NACA feels not enough has been done to sensitise and conscientise Batswana about HIV/AIDS.

Under the sub-topic of strategic communication component one, US$6.6 million is to be spent over the next three years. Under component two and three, $3 million will be used. 

The delegates were expected to end their conference today following presentations of group discussions.