Male dominance on Covid-19 cases worry Men Sector

Kgatleng men sector, a DMSAC sub-committee has raised concern that out of the 15 Botswana confirmed COVID-19 cases, 11 are males. They say this has left their mandate frustrated at men sector since males are their main target in addressing social issues, health included. They have noted how people continue to disregard the law by, among other things, selling tobacco and alcohol out there, thus forcing many to go out and buy at the secret places. “We express our strong position against such people who stagger government efforts to control this pandemic, more so that majority of users ( smokers) are men,” reads their statement. Men have been urged to change character for the better, in the best interest of their health, by taking advantage of the ban on alcohol and tobacco sales to quit altogether. They say such have potential of dropping statistics of gender based violence, grievous body harms and road traffic accidents which have long been associated with alcohol and substance abuse. Speaking further to SunOnline, Kgatleng men sector chairperson Mmabaledi Dipheng said they are not going out to attack men or accusing them of anything but they are disturbed by the growing numbers of COVID-19 on especially men. “We are not saying they carelessly went out to get the virus, we are advising that they keep safe particularly that they are our main target audience,” he said.