The President of Botswana, Quett Ketumile Masire, declared September as a month of prayer to mobilise Christians in support of HIV/Aids prevention and care.
In an address on 1 September at the national stadium President Masire said described this initiative as a response to an epidemic of Aids in the landlocked southern African country. It is estimated that 13 per cent of the population - some 180 000 people - are infected with HIV, a virus which leads to the acquired immunity deficiency syndrome (Aids).
According to the official Daily News, the Aids awareness programme has been developed by Christian leaders with the assistance of the Aids Control Programme of the Ministry of Health.
President Masire said that HIV/Aids challenged all aspects of human life because it had medical, psychological, spiritual and emotional aspects.
The President paid tribute to Christian organisations, and in particular, the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran Churches, which have already launched programmes to care for chronically ill Aids patients.