Speaking during a full council meeting on Monday, Tlokweng Council Chairperson Ontiretse Bogatsu revealed that antenatal HIV testing coverage has declined from nearly 99% in the previous quarter to just 88% this quarter. She emphasised that this drop is a cause for concern. “Partner testing also remains worryingly low, at only 20%,” she said. Moreover, Bogatsu highlighted a troubling rise in teenage pregnancies. In the first quarter alone, nine percent of expectant mothers were adolescents, with one of them testing HIV positive. She said this signals a pressing need for us to intensify our adolescent health and empowerment programmes. However, she told councillors that the availability of essential medicines continues to be critically low.
“In the first quarter, availability stood at just 60%, well below the national target of 97%. At the national level, the situation is dire. Arrears of more than P1 billion to suppliers have deepened shortages. Medicines for hypertension, diabetes, HIV and TB, asthma, cancer, and mental health are amongst those most severely affected. Here in Tlokweng, our modest drug budget of P100,000 was exhausted by the end of July 2025,” she pointed out. The chairperson said they are now forced to rely on emergency procurement measures just to keep facilities running. Furthermore, she said the declaration of the Public Health emergency by President Duma Boko, recently due to medical shortages, shows the gravity of the situation and action at the National level. Bogatsu, however, believes these challenges are not abstract; they are felt every day by our communities, health workers, and families. Moreover, she stressed that if left unaddressed, they threaten to undo the progress they have made.
