BOTSWANA – GABORONE – (Mmegi) - Tebelopele Voluntary Testing and Counselling Centre is holding edutainment campaigns to encourage people to know their HIV status before the end of the year.
According to the Centre Manager, Monkie Morake, the idea is to appeal to the people of Kgatleng to come in large numbers to test for HIV before "we close on Friday for Christmas".

"We are saying they should analyse themselves and act accordingly," said Morake, adding that this will help them to guard themselves because they will now know their status. Over the weekend the centre provided voluntary counselling and testing to people who wanted to know their status before the centre closes for Christmas on Friday. Morake said they have also visited the entire district to cover the outskirts of Mochudi all the way to Malotwana and other cattle posts where there are people who need information about HIV.
She said their effort is to make sure that people access their centre to receive the necessary support, "we are using entertainment to attract as many people as possible, more especially the youth." Morake confidently said: "We are able to reach the target we set daily for the centre, which is 450 everyday. But for the past two months we have exceeded this number to 560". She said this shows that more are willing to come forward to know their status.
She said many of their clients are the youth whom are the most affected by the disease. "I must say men in Kgatleng are testing in large numbers and they are exceeding women," revealed Morake. She said this is as a result of their good working relationship with the Men Sector Committee which is working tirelessly in addressing men on issues of HIV. "This has helped us at Tebelopele a lot and we are happy that men are beginning to see the importance of knowing their status," she said.
Meanwhile, Morake told Mmegi that they are working hand in hand with the local clinics through the lay counsellors to educate the people at the cattle posts. She said there are frequent visits to ensure that education they have imparted on them is being used, and to make sure there are enough condoms for them to use. Morake revealed that there are many settlements which need to be visited to offer health education. "To do this, we have devised a system whereby we go into house to house campaign talking to them on the importance of good health," she said.
On the infection rate in the district, Morake said they are waiting for the report which will spell out the number of people infected by the HIV since January. "We are waiting for the District AIDS Coordinator to issue out the report," said Morake.