Patricia Maganu
2 April 2008
Sebina — As a measure of taking services to the people, Makgabaneng held a health fair here over the weekend. Masses of people gathered at the Sebina playgrounds to participate in the fair organised by Makgabaneng in collaboration with the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC).
Makgabaneng project coordinator Moratiwa Mangwegape said that the turnout was impressive. "We are very grateful to Sebina people for showing up in such large numbers to take advantage of the services that we have brought here with us," she said. Mangwegape said she was especially impressed with the older generation. "We hardly expected this. The older people here understand the issues of health and are willing to participate," she said. Among the organisations that were at the fair were Tebelopele, the BDF, Local Police, BOTUSA, Oral Health, the Eye Clinic, Humana People to People, Tutume Primary Hospital, Bopaganang Basha, the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA), the Department of Road Transport and Safety. People were given the chance to test for different diseases and conditions at the different stalls set up by the organisations. People were also educated about some of the services they did not understand like the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.
Stanbic Bank Branch Manager, Stephen Goitsemang, who was the guest speaker, challenged students attending on their knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Goitsemang encouraged people to get tested, added that HIV is ranked as the fourth biggest global threat to foreign direct investment in Africa.
"It cuts across all demographics of race, gender, status and class," he said. Goitsemang said that HIV continues to wreack havoc on the economy.
"According to recent figures, an estimated 39.5 million people are living with HIV worldwide. There were 4.3 million new infections in 2006 with 2.8 million of these occurring in sub-Saharian Africa," he said.
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