For controlling HIV/AIDS, behavioral change at the individual level can be an important strategy. To find out the new ways of preventing the spread of HIV, a UN panel discussion was held on Tuesday. Many strategies have been taken to win the war against HIV/AIDS and there is hope with the strategy of behavioral change.

Mr Batho Molomo, the National Coordinator of NACA, said, “Behavior change is the responsibility of individuals and not the community.” adding that the latter could only provide the environment within which to effect behavioral change.

He noted that Botswana had scored some achievements in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but still a lot of effort needs to be done. He said, despite having about 113 000 people on antiretroviral therapy, several people had not accessed because they had not been tested. He pointed out those who were tested a long time back and did not know their current HIV status. Mr Molomo said women needed to be addressed urgently and they should be furnished with the right information to ensure that they make the informed decisions in case they decide to have babies.

Mr Molomo said that by the end of 2007, the free antiretroviral treatment provided had helped to prevent about 50 000 adult deaths and a number of HIV-positive mothers gave birth to HIV-negative babies. One of the panelists and the Chairperson of the UN Theme Group on AIDS Ms Argentina Matavel said, behavioral change could help stop new HIV infections.