Youth reluctance fuels HIV crisis as Botswana tackles rising infections
- Transactional sex, unemployment key drivers of HIV among youth
Youth aged 15 to 24 are the most reluctant to take up programmes that help fight the infection despite the fact that they account for a significant portion of new HIV infections, according to BAIS V.
March has been designated the Month of Youth Against HIV/AIDS (MYAA) in Botswana as a result of the high number of young people who are hard hit by HIV/AIDS.
Principal Information Education, Communication Officer Condom Programming at NAHPA, Kabo Ngambe says in March, they focus on target interventions for HIV/AIDS in an effort to reach out to young people with information and programmes that have been established for them to fight the virus.
“We discuss issues like prevention of HIV by knowing your HIV status. We encourage young people that after knowing their HIV status and are negative, they should be linked to acquisition of services that will help them prevent contracting the virus,” Ngambe said.
Some of the programmes include condom programming, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxes (PREP) for individuals who have not contracted the virus, but are at an elevated risk of acquiring it. They also discuss Post Exposure Prophylaxis, which is implemented after one is exposed to HIV.
“We discuss condom use and Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC), and NAHPA just like other entities, especially that it is the coordinating agency for HIV programmes, we continue to collaborate with BNYC, the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs that launched the commemorations in Mmathubudukwane at the beginning of March,” she said.
Activities lined up to commemorate this month include school interventions like dialogues at schools, out of schools and media interviews, among others.
“We have encouraged District AIDS Coordinators to continue to engage young people in dialogues concerning HIV/AIDS in Botswana. This, especially that we are concerned that young people continue to be on the receiving side of new infections, and uptake of interventions,” Ngambe said.
With this year’s theme, ‘Take the right path: My Health, My Right,’ they have realised that young people are still lagging behind in terms of uptake of services meant to fight infections.
Ngambe acknowledges that youth-friendly services are not yet widely spread across the country. They are engaging in community mobilisation and advocacy by talking to community leaders to ensure that services are availed.
NAHPA is also considering the age of consent to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxes that is currently provided for individuals at 18 years, though they are well aware that some know their HIV status as early as 16 years.
This will enable a 16-year-old to take a decision to enrol in PREP because some have indicated that they are sexually active before the age of 18.
The government through NAHPA and other stakeholders, during the MYAA reach young people with targeted interventions, ensuring that they are equipped to make informed decisions about their sexual health.
At the launch of the month-long commemoration in Mmathubudukwane in Kgatleng, Kgosi Thwane of Artesia expressed grave concern about the high infections among young people, stating that they are aggravated by among others; transactional sex, unemployment, gender-based violence and lack of recreational facilities that plague his village.
Youth in attendance were also given an opportunity to speak freely about issues that concern them the most. Among critical issues raised were transactional sex, which perpetuates the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The youth advocated for initiatives and interventions that are specific to their needs, preferences and locations rather than standard, rigid programmes that do not meet their most immediate needs.