Associated Press - Thursday November 30, 2000
Edith M. Lederer, Associated Press Writer

The report, released on the eve of World Aids Day, said the main hope for achieving that goal rests with stopping the spread of the disease to the next generation through a strong campaign of sex education and the promotion of condom use.

According to the report, 300,000 of Botswana's 1.6 million people - nearly one in five - are infected with HIV, which causes AIDS. By contrast, between 800,000 and 900,000 Americans have been infected with HIV, in a population of 267 million, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While Botswana struggles with its AIDS crisis, 80 percent of the population is still AIDS-free and more than half are under 15, according to the U.N. Development Program report.

"The primary challenge remains breaking the cycle of the spread of HIV from one generation of Botswana to another and containing the spread of the virus within generations," the report said. "If these two goals are achieved, then Botswana can expect a generation ... that is substantially free of HIV and AIDS by year 2016."

To achieve this goal, the report said Botswana must focus on stopping the transmission of HIV from older generations to those under 15, and that society must take a strong stand against sex between men over 25 and women under 18 and anyone having sex with youngsters under 16.

Botswana's President Festus Mogae, who launched the report Thursday in the capital Gaborone, gave government backing to the report, urging people to refrain from sex between adults and minors, unprotected sex and multiple partners.

"The ideal of an AIDS-free generation also requires a return to basics for Botswana," Mogae said in a forward to the report. "We are not a promiscuous society. We do not condone the sexual abuse of children. ... We have a tradition of respect for marriage and good family life."

The report calls for "bold and imaginative approaches to sex education for teen-agers," including education about family values, abstinence, relationships without sexual intimacy, and safe sex, and assuring access to condoms.

The U.N. Development Program said it is preparing to launch a new initiative to incorporate AIDS education into school curricula.
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