GABORONE, Dec 1 (AFP) - Botswanan President Festus Mogae Sunday urged his nation to go for voluntary HIV tests, as the country with the highest infection rate in the world celebrated World AIDS Day.

"While no other nation may be as severely affected as we are, it is also widely accepted that no other nation features such extraordinary opportunities to combat HIV and AIDS as we do," Mogae said in a message delivered in the capital.

Botswana's government-sponsored National Aids Coordinating Agency (NACA) said the country's infection rate among pregnant women spiralled up to nearly 40 percent last year, while the overall infection rate stands at 38.8 percent.

At least 330,000 of the country's 1.6 million people are infected with HIV or have full-blown AIDS, while 65,000 children have been left orphaned.

"The rest of the world believes, and we must also believe, that if we are to take advantage of our existing programme to prevent new infections, to take care for those who are infected, and to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS, we can help free Botswana and future generations from the threat of HIV and AIDS," he said.

Mogae, whose government has seen through a programme that will provide free anti-retroviral drugs to HIV positive pregnant women in an attempt to stem mother-to-child transmission, stressed the need to support people living with AIDS.

"It is incumbent upon us to reciprocate by doing our best to eradicate stigmas and strongly supporting people living with the disease," he said.

"Prevention is still the best hope in the face against the perilous scourge," Mogae added.

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