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Botswana : World AIDS Day Message

Botswana national front ’s pronouncement

D 7 décembre 2010     H 04:38     A Moeti Mohwasa     C 0 messages


The theme for this year’s annual World AIDS Day is “Universal Access & Human rights”. Since the first case of AIDS was discovered three decades ago a lot of lives have been lost resulting in increased number of orphans. The 1st Of December 2010 marks yet another commemoration of World AIDS, which offers an opportunity to reflect and to renew our resolve in winning the fight against the AIDS epidemic. This year’s world AIDS day commemoration is particularly important as its marks the end of the time frame for achieving Millennium Development Goal ( MDG ) 6b which is to : “Achieve, by 2010, universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those who need it”. As a nation we need to take stock of our self and gauge our achievements against this goal. This will determine the efficiency of BDP government policy on AIDS and HIV.

This year’s theme has two important and parallel elements which we must remember as we commemorate World AIDS day. The first element is that of Universal Access. MGD 6b mentioned above sets 2010 as a target year for universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those who need it. As a nation it is very important to ensure that AIDS patients have access to education to ensure prevention, access to health facilities for HIV/AIDS treatment, access to proper nutrition and access to care and support. Universal access calls for the BDP government to ensure HIV treatment is made accessible through ensuring that clinics in rural areas are stocked with medication for treatment of HIV/AIDS and related illnesses. It is travesty for people to have to travel long distances to major hospitals to get ARV’s and other HIV/AIDS medications. Practical universal access mean ensuring availability of resources (medication and personnel) to deal with HIV/AIDS related cases even in the remotest parts of Botswana . These are areas where HIV infection rates are prevalent due to abject poverty and hence access to resources to fight the epidemic in these areas can never be sufficiently stressed. As long as HIV/AIDS treatment is only available in certain areas and people in other parts of the country have to travel long distances to access treatment then we can not as a country say with a clear conscious and raised heads that we have achieved MGD 6b. A lot of work needs to be done to ensure practical access to HIV/AIDS treatment. We need to fight poverty because without good nutrition the struggle against HIV/AIDS will be difficult. There is need to look at the structure of our country’s economy to ensure that it stops churning out poverty like it is currently the case. It has been scientifically proven that you need good nutrition to boost your immune system. Therefore the poor are most likely to suffer as a result of lack of resiources to access nutritious food. ARV Drugs by themselves are not enough to lower the mortality rate.

The other element of this year’s theme which is equally important is that of human rights. HIV infected people like every other human being have rights which must be protected and respected. We need to show compassion and recognition of human rights. It is not uncommon to hear reports of work place stigma against people living with HIV. This does not only make HIV infected people feel isolated. It also denies them a constitutionally entrenched right of dignity. Some people have been fired from work or denied employment just because of their HIV status. This is wrong because being being HIV positive should not take away the rights of anyone. As a nation we should guard jealously the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. Thirty years into the HIV/AIDS pandemic, we have to focus on achieving zero marginalisation and discrimination of people affected by HIV/AIDS. There is need to go beyond policy to having a piece of legislation that will protect the rights of those who are HIV positive.

There is no denying that the best weapon to win the fight against AIDS is to ensure fewer people become affected and infected with HIV. This is covered by Millennium Development Goal 6a which is : to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. This goal is achievable. However it will not happen in a vacuum. Over and above individual responsibility, the government needs an HIV/AIDS Law. This Law should among others cover labour issues to ensure the rights of HIV/AIDS patients are protected. What we have currently in the form of National AIDS Policy and National Health Policy is not enough as it is not binding. The suggested Act of Parliament will be binding and its provisions enforceable so that defaulters can be penalised. All efforts to attain certain important national objectives should be given legislative impetus which is binding. It is only then that we can make progress. Some employers are so obsessed with profit making that they do not have a faintest sense of compassion and humanity.

On this year’s World AIDS Day, the BNF calls upon its members, all political parties, trade unions, various NGO’s, the government and the nation at large to renew our commitments and solidarity in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We can make a difference if we individually make a decision to fight against all forms of discrimination and the spread of the virus. This coupled with a clear government policy on combating HIV is the only way we can realise Millennium Development Goal 6. We would also like to call for a stronger involvement of the Presidency, similar to the one we experienced during the days of the former President, Rre Festus Mogae. Definitely with the same kind of zeal and commitment displayed towards the fight against Alcohol abuse we can achieve greater things. Let us reflect on the loss of fellow citizens. We have lost a mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter and ask ourselves this question : what role can I play to ensure no more life is lost ?

The BNF would also like to thank all those who have committed their time and resources to the fight for the rights of those who have been affected and infected by HIV. To them we say, let the struggle continue. HIV positive members of society have rights too. Like Martin Luther King said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". It might be someone else today but tomorrow it could be you !

We would also like to encourage people to go for HIV testing to know their status. Its the right thing to do.

In the spirit of spreading the message and taking practical steps, the BNF will be having a panel discussion at Tsholofelo Hall, Gaborone on the 1st December to discuss the above mentioned theme. The panel discussion will start at 1700 hrs.

Moeti Mohwasa

Information and Publicity Secretary