Former President of Tanzania and a leader of Champions for an HIV-Free Generation, Benjamin Mkapa says male circumcision and condom usage are important elements in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Speaking at the Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA) meeting in Maseru on Monday, he said, the media is therefore challenged to find ways on how best to communicate these two issues to the public to help decrease the infection rate.
” I urge African leaders to always make HIV and AIDS part of their core business as the disease will continue to be a cause of high mortality rate in the years to come,” he said.
Mr Mkapa, noted that leaders should re-invigorate their leadership effort in the fight against HIV and AIDS in Africa, saying although the prevalence rate has been stabilized, but promotion of routine and regular testing should be encouraged.
The former Tanzanian president pointed out that funding for HIV and AIDS programs is a challenging issue to access treatment for the disease and care, saying this is because the support is short term.
At the same occasion, Lesotho’s First Lady, Mrs. Mathato Mosisili said it is high time that women changed their mindsets and ways in which they did things.
Mrs. Mosisili, said the culture that men are the only ones who should lead and make decisions in families in Lesotho, still serves as a basis of controlling women’s reproductive health, which results in high rates of women being infected with HIV and AIDS.
”It is high time that women took full responsibility of their own actions, changed their behavior and ways in which they did things to avoid HIV and AIDS infection,” she added.
She noted that holding on to the culture that does not advance women is not a good idea as women have to move forward, adding that there are organizations that empower women to make informed decisions for themselves.
The SABA conference started on Sunday and ends on Wednesday. It is attended by broadcasters of the southern Africa region.
Source African Press Agency
