June 17, 2009 11:45 AM

Namibia Has Too Many NGOs Dealing With HIV/AIDS

WINDHOEK, June 17 (Bernama) -- Representatives of Namibia's non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) on Tuesday informed the visiting delegation of Champions for an HIV/AIDS-Free Generation that the country has many NGOs dealing with similar projects on HIV and AIDS, Namibian news agency (Nampa) reported.

The delegation, headed by former Botswana President and Chairman of the Champions for an HIV/AIDS-Free Generation Organisation, Festus Mogae, former Mozambican President Joachim Chissano and former Vice-President of Uganda Dr. Speciosa Wandira, also heard that there is poor collaboration and cooperation between the NGOs and the government departments dealing with the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the country.

The majority of the representatives of NGOs and CBOs bitterly complained about the Namibian government's alleged inadequate or little support in funding civil society's programmes dealing with the deadly pandemic, and related diseases such as tuberculosis.

They further told the delegation that Namibians are still ignorant as far as the HIV/AIDS pandemic is concerned, saying: "This ignorance is killing our people on a daily basis".

According to the representatives of civil society organisations, Namibia has also witnessed a number of women being sterilised over the past few years without their consent, allegedly because of their HIV/AIDS status.

Responding to the challenges of Namibia's NGOs and CBOs, Mogae advised the civil society representatives to work hand-in-hand with one another and the government departments to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS, and to avoid the duplication of projects in an effort to save resources and funding.

"We understand the reality of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and the challenges facing Namibian civil society in dealing with the issue. The NGOs should be in the forefront to help HIV/AIDS' sufferers in the fight against stigma and discrimination in the country," Mogae told the gathering.

Uganda's Wandira urged NGOs to encourage people to eat healthy food, saying "the great contributors to our good health are just ourselves, as the deadly pandemic is robbing us of our most productive people."

The delegation on Tuesday afternoon also visited the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Doreen Sioka, in order to learn how members of the National Assembly and National Council handle topics on the HIV/AIDS pandemic and related issues.

Health and Social Services Minister Dr Richard Kamwi was also present at this meeting.

Mogae and his team are on a three-day visit to Namibia.

The Champions for an HIV-free Generation is a group of renowned African leaders calling for their peers to rethink and step-up efforts to prevent the spread of HIV.

The delegation on Monday also paid a courtesy call on both President Hifikepunye Pohamba and former President Sam Nujoma to inform them about the mission of the Champions.

The Champions' highly visible leaders from all over Africa and different walks of life will mobilise leaderships in Africa and advocate effective policies and action on HIV prevention.

As outspoken opinion leaders, they will seek to initiate a dialogue in changing behavioural and societal norms.

Meanwhile, Sub-Saharan Africa is reported to be home to more than one-third of all new HIV infections and AIDS deaths.

Twenty-two million Africans are living with HIV/AIDS, and AIDS has killed 1.5 million people in 2007, making it the leading cause of death in Africa.

-- BERNAMA

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