We're famous

Botswana is famous. A beauty pageant that has been advertised for months here was mentioned as part of the odd news on myway.com. I find it amusing that they would put it under the odd news when to us here it's just news. The fact that it's necessary to have a pageant with that name is not so amusing. Botswana and the US government have been spending a lot of money to improve the HIV/AIDS situation here. On the inside of the car registration in the windshield it says "Speed Kills, Condoms Save." People have definitely gotten the first half of the message. Ignore a red light, sure, but when they go through it, they're definitely not speeding!

There is a radio serial drama called Makgabaneng that's on twice a week (in Setswana) that deals with all sorts of issues related to HIV and AIDS. There are government funded facilitators that get together with groups of listeners during or after the programs air to discuss the issues raised. I'm actually working on a database right now to track the listening and discussion groups, participants, what they think of the discussion guides and topics discussed. Another big program is PMTCT (Preventing Mother to Child Transmission [of HIV]). There are billboards around town advertising the free program. In a place where 40% of the women of childbearing age are HIV+, it's a vital program. Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) is another big program. That is also advertised. The Botswana President (Festus Mogae) got tested publicly to encourage other people to do the same.

Anyway, the Miss HIV Stigma Free pageant was held last Saturday. Here's the link to the article that started this post: Beauty Pageant to choose Miss HIV