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WORLD
AIDS DAY
REMARKS AT
THE OCCASION OF WORLD AIDS DAY COMMEMORATION ON 1ST
DECEMBER, 2002 AT BOIPUSO HALL -
By Elizabeth Mpule Montshent, Chairperson of BONEPWA+
Your Excellency, The President of the Republic of Botswana,
Mr. Festus Mogae, Cabinet Ministers here present, Members
of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Guests, Fellow
PLWAs and Friends.
I salute all of you in the name of the struggle against
HIV/AIDS. And I salute you on behalf of all persons
living with HIV/AIDS. I stand in front of you all representing
the Botswana Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS
(BONEPWA+).
The commemoration of the World AIDS Day is to me an
emotional occasion. It is an emotional day as it reminds
us of how HIV/AIDS has managed to ravage societies across
the globe. But before I delve into the significance
of this occasion, I want to pose and answer two questions:
What meaning does World AIDS Day have for us as Batswana?
And what does World AIDS Day mean to us as Batswana
living with the virus?
The answer to the first question is that World AIDS
Day gives Batswana a chance to get together and celebrate,
reflect and pose for a moment whether all efforts put
together in responding to the challenges are actually
yielding the desired results. Are all these efforts
and structures turning around the tide of the epidemic;
but I want to believe that these efforts are worth our
while. I think we should give ourselves a round of applause
for that.
It is important to us as people living with HIV/AIDS
because it shows us that the nation of Botswana do care
about us and that we are not alone.
It shows that we accept ourselves as people living with
HIV/AIDS and encourage others who are affected to also
accept us and that is basically the intention of this
year's theme, that of Stigma and Discrimination.
Stigma has many dimensions to it. It can be self inclicted
and manifests itself as denial. As people living with
HIV/AIDS, we face great challenges, that of acception
ourselves before we expect society at large to accept
us.
When stigma is practiced by people other than people
living with HIV/AIDS, it can lead to discrimination
in the workplace, family, relationships, and the community.
This year's theme promotes the global realization of
people living with HIV/AIDS human rights. This is the
right to have a family, the right to work, the right
to get education and the right to receive medical treatment
without being judged or condemned in any way.
But why am I saying all this. The answer is simple.
It is important to create an environment in which people
feel safe to talk about their status like any other
health condition so that they can access services such
as food baskets, orphan care, medical treatment,
counselling
and support.
As a person living with HIV/AIDS I take the phrase "live
and let live" to reflect the promotion by our nation
of the spirit of Botho, where we co-exist in harmony
and without disrespect, judgement and marginalisation.
We live as each others brothers and sisters, individually,
yet united. We must give support and encouragement where
it is needed or requested. We must educate people infected
and affected to make responsible choices and respect
the choices they make. We must make responsible choices
of our own such that another person's choice does not
affect us negatively.
We must continue the fight as individuals and as a nation.
I want to thank the President most heartily for his
unwavering commitment in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Our President has stood steadfast for all these years
with us and has provided the desired leadership.
I thank you all.
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