08 Sep 2024

A call for persistence and intensity in prayer resonated throughout the community on Saturday during the launch of the Month of Prayer at Bible Life Church.

The event underscored the vital role of collective prayer in uniting communities to tackle pressing issues such as HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence (GBV), Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), and road traffic accidents.

This annual observance, held every September, aims to foster reflection and prayer around various social ills that affect the community.

Under the theme; Developing a Transformative Mindset,” the launch served as a poignant reminder of the collective responsibility that rests on the shoulders of community members.

Apostle Dr Israel Keletso of Holiness Union Church took to the stage, urging attendees to engage in self-reflection. “Let us introspect on what we can do differently to overcome these challenges,” he encouraged, prompting participants to evaluate their perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors.

The Month of Prayer campaign provides an important platform for residents of Selebi Phikwe to come together, commit to prayer, and take actionable steps towards addressing persistent societal issues.

This year’s event not only galvanised the attendees to pray but also inspired them to consider practical measures for change and healing within the community. He thus he called upon religious leaders, faith based organisations and the society to stand in unity to pray for issues that affected the district.

“We are a nation that is heavily dependent on prayer to commit to God all matters concerning the nation. We must continue to intensify our prayers until such issues are no longer a concern to our community,” he said.

Giving an update on the HIV/AIDS prevalence in Selebi Phikwe, District AIDS coordinator, Mr Shathiso Daki said government had made positive strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Mr Daki said such efforts were however threatened by pressing and emerging social ills such as GBV, drug and alcohol abuse and therefore implored the Selebi Phikwe community to unite to end social ills.

On one hand, Mr Daki emphasised on the correct use of condoms and avoiding multi-concurrent partners to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

He said according to the 2021 Botswana AIDS Impact Survey (BAIS), Mahalapye Central was mostly affected with the HIV prevalence at 33.3 per cent while Selebi Phikwe was at 26.7 per cent.

For his part, Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) fund public education officer, Mr Abram Ntshiping expressed concern about the road accidents that continued to claim lives.

Mr Ntshiping indicated that 1.1 million people worldwide, died in road accidents annually, with those aged between zero and 29 years were mostly affected.

In Botswana, he said statistics indicated that 462 lives were lost due to road accidents in 2018, out of which 332 were men and 130 women while in 2019, 457 accidents were registered out of which 325 were men and 132 women.

He added that in 2020, 325 lives were claimed by road accidents, attributing the decline to movement restriction due to COVID-19 pandemic while in 2021 the number increased to 413 lives out of which were 288 men compared to 125 women, while 404 lives were lost in 2022 comprising 282 men and 122 women.

He further said statistics also showed that last year, 396 lives were claimed by road accidents, comprising 276 men and 120 women.

“So far, we have registered 192 deaths in 2024 due to road accidents comprising 147 men and 45 women,” he added. ENDS