New HIV infections amongst girls, young women worrisome
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday November 21, 2023 06:00
Speaking at a Gala Dinner in honour of the First Lady Neo Masisi as the UNAIDS Champion For The Empowerment and Engagement of Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Gaborone recently, Letlhare pointed out that it was worrying because AGYW constitutes about nine percent of Botswana’s population, yet that cohort accounts for about 24% of a new infection.
He added that the other worrying fact about that category of their citizens was that even though the country attained and surpassed the 95-95-95 UNAIDS global targets, the AGYW category falls below the national average as they stand at 82.3% under the first 95% target and at 91.5% the third target.
“This clearly shows that most of our AGYW are slow to present themselves for testing services so they can know their HIV status, whereas at the same time, the adherence level for those on treatment may be lacking hence the below national average viral suppression,” Letlhare stated. “For the country to successfully reach the last milestone of ending AIDS as a public health threat by the year 2030, we need collective efforts in HIV prevention. Botswana currently stands at 95-98-98 on global targets.”
He further pointed out that President Mokgweetsi Masisi made it clear that they must collectively ensure that Botswana attains the target of 100-100-100. He added that their understanding of that direction is that they must flip the global targets as attained, leaving them with a deficit of 5-2-2 to get 100-100-100. He said their task as a collective was to locate the remaining five percent of people who are living with HIV but were not aware of their positive status. “In doing so we have to answer questions such as who are they? Where are they? What available factors are contributing to the lack of their presenting themselves for HIV testing as well as to access general health services? How do we reach them? What is clear to us though is that failure to locate the remaining five percent means cutting down on new HIV infections may not be easily realised, thus derailing our country from attaining the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by the year 2030,” Letlhare said.
Moreover, the Minister for State President, Kabo Morwaeng pointed out that the First Lady was their 'child' especially the girl-child’s role model, mentor and motivator. He added that her high-level appointment by UNAIDS as the UNAIDS Champion For The Empowerment and Engagement of Adolescent Girls and Young Women in New York on September 21, 2023, was not the first for her but the second recognition from UNAIDS. He also said the appointment served as positive feedback and a vote of confidence in the previous role of Special Ambassador for young people in Botswana, the mandate she executed diligently.
Letlhare also said in her previous assignment, the First Lady called for the commissioning of a consultancy to develop a framework for meaningful engagement of young people in Botswana to ensure the promotion of youth participation in decision-making structures. He added that her efforts resulted in the establishment of a Youth Engagement Forum that advises and guides on strategic direction and policy issues relating to young people. For his part, the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture Tumiso Rakgare wished the First Lady, God’s guidance in pursuit of the new assignment to help young girls and women achieve their dreams and aspirations and to meaningfully contribute to the socio-economic development of this country. Rakgare also thanked her for taking the lead in engaging young people to open up and talk about issues that closely affect them and deliberate on the solutions that will enhance their health, mental, and social and economic well-being. “As we may be aware, young people face a myriad of social ills, ranging from high rates of unemployment, mental health challenges, alcohol and substance use, suicide, gender-based violence, crime, and road traffic accidents to name just a few. We need leaders like Her Excellency, who can rise to the occasion and fight a good fight. The race shall be worn. In her effort to empower AGYW, she engaged the community leaders and other key stakeholders.
This gives evidence that empowerment and engagement of AGYW needs a multi-sectoral approach, which we all need to embrace for impactful results,” he ended. Additionally, First Lady Masisi expressed gratitude to Botswana for availing her the space and rights to utilise her advocacy platform to the fullest. She added that challenges of adolescent girls and young women were not often heard although they were fully capable of speaking. She also pointed out that the adversities and challenges they faced ranged from HIV/AIDS, sexual abuse, teenage pregnancies, forced marriages, mental health and unemployment. While a lot of those challenges still persist, she said they were all aware that the COVID-19 pandemic did not make it any better.