The Botswana Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Assistant Commissioner Mr Christopher Mbulawa has called upon men to reassume their positions as heads of families and communities leaders.

Assistant Commissioner Mbulawa made the call when addressing the staff the Botswana Public Service College today (14/11/2012) during their prayer meeting held at the College in Gaborone. Mr Mbulawa said Men Sector is going around the country targeting men at their work places, explaining that this platform awards men opportunity to meet and talk about HIV/AIDS related issues and how to protect their families against the epidemic and gender-based violence.

The Public Relations Officer encouraged men to be responsible, accountable and to stop acts of violence against women and children. He said where violence prevails communication and information sharing are usually compromised and therefore HIV/AIDS issues are never discussed. He said that women who are subjected to violence are susceptible to HIV infection mainly through submission to rape and unprotected sex. Assistant Commissioner Mbulawa said that violence, whether physical or emotional often leads to degrading acts such as aggravated assaults, rape, suicide and murder.

He challenged men to reinforce their efforts in the fight against the disease to achieve the National Strategic Framework for HIV/AIDS. Mr Mbulawa encouraged the Public Service College Staff to form a Committee that will continue educating the public against bad practices such as multiple concurrent sexual partnerships.

He said some men who are still dragging their feet to undergo male circumcision introduced in government health facilities concern Men Sector. He called upon the attendants to take advantage of the programme but he however, cautioned against relying on the initiative alone, as it has to be coupled with other strategies of practicing safe sex.

Mr Mbulawa expressed concern that statistics shows that the government continues to register new cases of HIV infections. In conclusion Mr Mbulawa said men have a responsibility of making sure that they build a safe Botswana by preventing these infections.