Africa-Press – Botswana. Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Mabuse Pule has advised men to prioritise health and adopt healthy lifestyles.
Mr Pule said this during a Brothers Arise meeting that was held at Bonwapitse for men and boys, women and girls to address social ills.
The meeting was held under the theme; Community Dialogue on Vulnerability of Men and Boys on Social Ills.
Mr Pule commended all participants for their presence stating that it was a clear demonstration of their commitment to assume full responsibility of their own health.
He noted that their input was crucial in all issues relating to health, especially on HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases and social ills bedevilling society.
However, he highlighted that the uptake of health services was low, adding that men’s reluctance to take up health services could invariably lead to numerous health challenges.
He encouraged men to take responsibility as their families and communities expected to be served by healthy men.
Mr Pule advised the attendants to guard against risky behaviour, lifestyles and tendencies such as smoking, substance abuse, and multiple concurrent sexual partnerships.
He stated that to achieve healthy lifestyle they should regularly do screening for all health conditions and adhere to medical treatment.
He applauded women for their presence and advised them to be aware of some behaviour and habits that were detrimental and negatively affected men’s outlook towards life.
He urged them to relate well with men and boys around them and be facilitators in men’s wellbeing.
“We all need to take full responsibility for our sake, and that of our loved ones, our communities and society. We all need to recreate our society and raise a new generation of boys and men who will rise to the occasion and become torch-bearers in the family setup,” he said.
Member of Parliament for Shoshong, Mr Aubrey Lesaso said men should protect what they had.
Mr Lesaso stated that men should not marry women in order to abuse them, but they should protect and love them in order to have happy families free from gender-based violence.
He advised women to take care of their husbands and avoid the use of abusive words when hurt.
Kgosi wTshipe Tshipe of Mahalapye said the family was the foundation of society, and urged men and women to build a proper foundation in order to have a society free from social ills.
Kgosi Tshipe added that the way children were raised affected their behaviour and mindset and reflected the types of families they came from.
He said building strong families could result in good societies, urging men and women to practice good communication and learn to open up to solve issues that destroyed peace in their homes.
Men’s Sector coordinator at National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency (NAHPA), Mr Nonofo Leteane said a healthy family created a healthy nation.
He said when people were mentally, spiritually, emotionally and socially fit, they could be free from social ills.
He expressed his concern about men who were still reluctant to go for HIV testing, and further advised them to undergo safe male circumcision.
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