02 Mar 2025

Despite decades of progress, young people remain at the epicenter of the HIV epidemic, particularly those between ages of 15 and 24.

This account for 24 percent of new HIV infections although they comprise nine percent of the total population of Botswana.

“This means the battle against HIV and AIDS is far from over. And if we are to win it, young people must not only be beneficiaries of programs but active participants in creating solutions”, said the Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs Ms Lesego Chombo, when giving a keynote address at the commemoration of the Month of Youth Against HIV/AIDS (MYAA) in Mmathubudukwane recently.

Ms Chombo said the Botswana AIDS Impact Survey V indicated that young people were worse off when it came to the UNAIDS treatment cascade targets of 95-95-95.

She said while at population level the country was doing well with 95 percent of the population aged 15-65 years aware of their HIV positive status, of which 97 percent were on antiretroviral treatment and 97 percent were virally suppressed, for youth it was a different story.

Minister Chombo said for the first 95, young men aged 15-24 are at 89 percent while their female counterparts were at 82 percent, which indicated that young people were not doing well when it comes to testing for HIV.

She further said another area of concern was that the youth were lagging behind when it came to viral load suppression, which was the third 95 and their performance was 92 percent for both males and females against the national average of 97 percent, which signalled issues related to treatment adherence among young people.

“This year’s commemoration theme is relevant to the message that I wish to put across the youth of this nation. Themed; “Take the Rights Path; My Health, My Right” directly relays a strong message to appeal to the youth population to be active participants in everything that happens in the environment in which they live. It is also a bold statement by the youth themselves to say health is their essential right and they take ultimate responsibility for it,” she said.

Minister Chombo said the population of Botswana was predominantly youth, with more than two thirds in their youthful years, majority of them were in urban areas, and a significant number find themselves unemployed.

She added that some studies indicated that the youth were also susceptible to other various health and socio-economic vulnerabilities such as HIV infections, alcohol and drug abuse, mental depression, poverty, crime as well as gender based violence. Minister Chombo said these, if left unattended, could deprive the nation of the potential the youth can offer.

The minister said young people had the power to influence their peers, communities, adding that youth advocacy should not just be about speaking out, but raising awareness, challenging stigma, and demanding policies that support youth-friendly services.

She encouraged youth to fully engage with authorities through their youth formations or platforms such as social media, school clubs, or community youth groups and forums. Ms Chombo told the youth that it was okay to say no, and it was their right and responsibility to love themselves more that the person they say they love.

“Make it a point that as a young person, you get tested to know your status and encourage others to do the same. To be informed gives you the “rights path” of education and for yourself to further educate your peers. Knowledge is power, and use it to demand change because it is your “right,” she said.

Giving HIV/AIDS situational analysis, Kgatleng District AIDS Coordinator, Mr Kago Kealeboga said the district had a 19.3 percent HIV prevalence. He said this showed that the district had a serious challenge as it continued to register new infections, mainly among the youth aged between 15 and 24 years.

Mr Kealeboga said Artesia and Oodi villages were leading on HIV/AIDS cases, adding that something must be done to reduce the infections. He said teenage pregnancy was one of the major problems of HIV transmission as young people engage in sexual activities without protection.

The District AIDS coordinator encouraged the youth to make the right choices and love themselves first before putting their lives in danger. Mr Kealeboga said government had robust health programmes in place to help pregnant mothers stop HIV transmission to their children.

Sharing the objectives of the day, acting board chairperson of Botswana National Youth Council, Ms Charlotte Ruwona said the HIV scourge had mostly affected the youth and time has come for them to take responsibility of their sexual health.
Ms Ruwona encouraged the youth to take charge of their lives and implored parents to talk to their children, especially concerning sexual health issues.

Popular Rap Artist Bakang “BAXON” Moitoi of “Ha go pala tlogela” fame song also encouraged the youth to take the right path concerning their sexual health. He said education and empowerment programs helped the youth to access sexual health services in order to fight the HIV/AIDS scourge.

Mr Moitoi stressed the importance of regular testing for people to know their HIV statuses and taking medication as prescribed by health professionals. He said all must continue to work against HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination and allow those who needed help to be assisted without fear of being victimised.

Bakgatla Deputy Chief, Kgosi Bana Sekai said the Month of Youth Against HIV/AIDS was an international day that gave the youth an opportunity to educate, inspire and strategise on how best they can overcome the HIV transmission. He advised that it was time that the youth needed a special day alone where they meet, speak freely on how best they think they can win the battle.

Kgosi Sekai said it was important that the youth overcame their challenges, as they were the leaders to take over from them.

Giving a vote of thanks, area Member of Parliament, Mr Mabuse Pule said he had faith in the leadership of Minister Chombo more so that she was young and understood the needs of the youth better. He said unemployment should not be an excuse for engaging in reckless sexual behaviour that puts their lives in danger of HIV virus infection.

Mr Pule said they must make the right decision that came with responsibilities and help them live long and healthy life, adding there was still a lot of work to be done to win the war on HIV/AIDS pandemic, but believed government was committed to the fight, which began decades ago. ENDS