Mogae's Helping Hand in Local Fight Against HIV/AIDS

President Festus Mogae of Botswana has donated over M60 000 to the Office of the First Lady to assist in scaling up the fight against HIV/AIDS. The donation was made during a brief meting between the  President and local HIV/AIDS groups, at the Royal Palace in Maseru on April 16.

Handing over the monies, the President commended Basotho, especially HIV/AIDS support groups and volunteers, for putting strong measures in place to scale up the fight against the pandemic, which is threatening the economy of countries as it attacks and kills the most valuable resource, the people.

Batswana are mostly affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and have not hesitated to declare the pandemic a national disaster as the country is loosing its most valuable human resource, ranging from senior government officials to workers in the private sector. While HIV/AIDS is the number one enemy that calls for every citizen and nation to join hands to curb its spread, poverty is another, and a contributing factor to the spread of the disease among people.

The President said if the collaboration between Batswana and Basotho continues, the two can learn from each other and can device common strategies in launching the fight against the pandemic.

"Basotho have demonstrated commitment in the struggle against the pandemic, and I hope Batswana will learn a lot from Basotho, especially in volunteering to assist terminally ill people, as well as taking care of
orphans and vulnerable people" he said.

He commended People Living Openly with HIV/AIDS for their courage to carry on, adding that in his country people in high positions shy away from openly declaring their status, although there is nothing wrong in publicly proclaiming one's status for it was only with the knowledge that assistance can be found.

Speaking at the same occasion, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare Dr. Motloheloa Phooko spelled out the activities carried out in the country since the HIV/AIDS SADC summit held in Maseru in July,  including the launching of a document entitled "Turning a crisis into an opportunity"; the launching of universal Voluntary Testing and Counseling by the Prime Minister in Qacha's Nek.

 These and many other activities, indicated the commitment with which Basotho wish to scale down the spread of the pandemic. Government intends to keep 70 per cent of the people free of infection, while taking care of the estimated 30 percent already infected. The use of antiretrovirals is soon to be officially launched as part of efforts to intensively care for those already infected, he said.

He commended Botswana for the state of the art facilities they have put in place to enhance the fight against the pandemic, adding that if the two nations were to collaborate in this struggle, the war would soon be won.

16 April 2004