In celebrating the achievements of three years of co-operation, the Namibia Network of Aids Service Organisations (NANASO) and the German Development Service (DED – Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst) awarded NANASO a certificate for ‘best practice’ this week.Issues listed during the press conference were the major achievements of NANASO, the umbrella body for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations and faith-based organisations across Namibia working in the field of HIV/Aids.The HIV/Aids network has more than 17000 volunteers, of which about 1000 are full-time staff and almost 300 part-time who work for NGOs, community-based organisations and faith-based organisations.According to Michael Mulondo, the national co-ordinator of NANASO achieved much by publishing a series of reports (a monitoring and evaluation survey), training programmes such as workplace training programmes with a focus on small businesses, family and stigma, organisational development, project cycle management and accounting.Mulondo said that NANASO?s mission was to provide a networking service to its members to enable them to strengthen and maximise their potential to effectively address the HIV/Aids epidemic through communication, facilitation, co-ordination and monitoring, as well as advocacy.Marriane Woeler, the programme officer for DED said that NANASO’s success story was a result of common efforts of the organisation’s staff and experts from DED.?We believe the DED through the empowerment of non-governmental organisations made a visible contribution towards delivering efficient solutions for social and political challenges can be given?, said Woeler. She said that many NGOs were usually not able to meet the donor organisations? requirements for ensuring transparency and accountability as they had difficulty when it came to writing proposals or project reports and in leading their organisations. She added that this was the reason why DED concentrated on supporting the NGOs in overcoming constraints of this nature by giving workers hands-on training.

With World AIDS Day this week, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies urged governments to honour their promise to write legislation that outlaws discrimination against HIV/AIDS-positive people.?This World AIDS Day, the Namibia Red Cross is reminding communities of the contribution made by people living with HIV/AIDS. Let us embrace people living with the virus as meaningful contributors to our families and communities and come closer to people living with HIV?, said ex-minister Toivo Ya Toivo, newly appointed chairman of the Namibia Red Cross Society.?This year, the Namibia Red Cross Society has worked diligently to keep our promise to come closer to people affected by HIV/AIDS in partnership with those living with the virus.?The Namibia Red Cross recently launched its anti-stigma campaign called ?Come closer ?? aimed to remind communities that a huge task still lay ahead as many HIV/AIDS-positive people are still ostracized by their communities and discriminated against in other aspects of their lives. With messages like ?Hug! Hug! You cannot get HIV by hugging?, the Namibia Red Cross aims to break down stigma and inform communities that it is perfectly all right to come closer to HIV/AIDS-positive people.The Red Cross and Red Crescent urged all 189 governments who signed the UN General Assembly Special Session Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS in 2001, to fulfil their promises. A comprehensive review of the Declaration of Commitment is currently underway in all countries, and in 2006, governments will be called on to report on progress made.?This World AIDS Day we need to reflect on the promises we have made in relation to our AIDS response, the way we work with people living with HIV/AIDS and recognize their contribution to our AIDS response. This is the only way we can guarantee the positive impact of our HIV work and improve the living conditions of communities made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS?, added Essack-Kauaria, the head of Namibia Red Cross Society.

With World AIDS Day this week, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies urged governments to honour their promise to write legislation that outlaws discrimination against HIV/AIDS-positive people.?This World AIDS Day, the Namibia Red Cross is reminding communities of the contribution made by people living with HIV/AIDS. Let us embrace people living with the virus as meaningful contributors to our families and communities and come closer to people living with HIV?, said ex-minister Toivo Ya Toivo, newly appointed chairman of the Namibia Red Cross Society.?This year, the Namibia Red Cross Society has worked diligently to keep our promise to come closer to people affected by HIV/AIDS in partnership with those living with the virus.?The Namibia Red Cross recently launched its anti-stigma campaign called ?Come closer ?? aimed to remind communities that a huge task still lay ahead as many HIV/AIDS-positive people are still ostracized by their communities and discriminated against in other aspects of their lives. With messages like ?Hug! Hug! You cannot get HIV by hugging?, the Namibia Red Cross aims to break down stigma and inform communities that it is perfectly all right to come closer to HIV/AIDS-positive people.The Red Cross and Red Crescent urged all 189 governments who signed the UN General Assembly Special Session Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS in 2001, to fulfil their promises. A comprehensive review of the Declaration of Commitment is currently underway in all countries, and in 2006, governments will be called on to report on progress made.?This World AIDS Day we need to reflect on the promises we have made in relation to our AIDS response, the way we work with people living with HIV/AIDS and recognize their contribution to our AIDS response. This is the only way we can guarantee the positive impact of our HIV work and improve the living conditions of communities made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS?, added Essack-Kauaria, the head of Namibia Red Cross Society.

Employees of Meatco at the Okahandja abattoir, will observe an in-house World AIDS Day were the main speaker will be a seven-year-old HIV/AIDS orphan.Meatco hosts an HIV/AIDS Day every year since 2002. During the event, employees are encouraged to take part in information sessions, awareness campaigns and to share information on HIV/AIDS prevention.This year it will be held under the theme ‘Walking for Life’. The Mayor of Okahandja, Christofina Paulus, has been invited to address the participants.?The seven-year-old orphan is going to present a motivational speech, share his life experience and break the wall of silence in the presence of other orphans, employees and members of the Okahandja community?, said Leonard Amathila, spokesperson of Meatco.As part of the day?s activities, the management of Meatco has organised ? ? a 5km fun-walk to create awareness among the residents, including Meatco employees in the town. The walk will focus on aspects of healthy living and help to promote fitness and a healthy attitude for those affected and infected?, said Amathila.Meatco will observe the HIV/AIDS day two days after the official World AIDS Day on 1 December.The international theme for this year is ?Stop AIDS. Keep the promise?. The theme, according to the World AIDS Campaign (WAC), is intended to ?establish an international campaign to hold our leaders accountable for their promises and commitments and take the action necessary to deliver on them?. The campaign will run from 2005 to 2010.The campaign advocates the fulfilment of the UN Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and subsequent policy commitments on AIDS.?The campaign aims to hold the world community accountable to the commitments they make, while at the same time highlighting the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS as an important tool for ensuring a comprehensive response to the epidemic?.?The World AIDS Campaign also aims to ensure individuals are actively engaged in the response.Achieving this ambition requires more support and action than people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS are able to generate on their own. What is needed is the involvement of more people from many different walks of life, whether they are individuals or groups, whether they are part of a trade union or a faith group, or part of the women’s movement, or a young person wanting a better world in the future.

Rounding up the troops in the battle against AIDS

The NANASO Directory of NGOs, CBOs and Faith Based Organisations active in the Field of HIV/AIDS highlights the details of over 160 civil society organisations active in the field of HIV/AIDS ? their background, objectives, where they work and their detailed programmes.Launching the directory, Minister of Health Richard Kamwi said on Thursday, 27 October, at a ceremony at the NBL Customer Care Centre, Katutura, the book had been compiled with the assistance of the Global Fund for AIDS.?I want to urge and challenge anyone to join me in speaking up loud and clear about HIV/AIDS?, the minister said.?I want to urge and challenge anyone to join me in tearing down the walls of silence, stigma and discrimination that surround the epidemic.?I am determined to proceed with the fight against HIV/AIDS?It has to be a national effort and thus it was with delight that I became acquainted with NANASO’s research this year that identified that there are nearly 250 NGOs, CBOs and Faith Based Organisations now committed to tackling HIV/AIDS, with the support of over 15000 volunteers. The NANASO Directory and its recently published M&E Report suggests that over 320,000 people benefited from over 16000 events in a 3-month period at the beginning of 2005.?This represents a huge national effort, the value of which cannot be underestimated. It means that in every part of the country there are individuals giving freely of their time and energy to tackle the epidemic.?The appointment of Michael Mulondo as national co-ordinator was announced at the same event. Mulondo?s expertise in the field of HIV/AIDS covers a period of ten years with specialization in Community Developmental and HIV/AIDS Management. He currently holds a Bachelor and Masters degree of Arts and a Master of Science degree in HIV/AIDS management.

A projected 200,000 or roughly 10% of the population of Namibia will need antiretroviral treatment (ART) in the near future.With an HIV prevalence of 10.6% amongst young women, an adult HIV prevalence of 15% and 2 700 newly infected children in 2008/09, the cost of a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS response is expensive (about N$2 billion per year and about N$850 per capita).This is the economic picture painted by Jeanette de Putter, operations manager of the Namibia Global Fund Programme Management Unit in the Ministry Health and Social Services. ?Donor support is clearly needed in the years to come. So far Namibia has been able to rollout the HIV/AIDS response with relatively abundant funding from PEPFAR and Global Fund. As slight decreases are expected due to the global economic downturn, it is now time to consolidate the response and also look into more efficient and effective ways of delivering programmes,? said de Putter.At the recent National Girl Child Conference with the theme ?Celebrating and cementing the right of the Girl Child: Fight GBV? in Swakopmund organised by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, de Putter emphasised the importance of these programmes by citing the decline in HIV prevalence among young (15 ? 24 years old) women from 15.2% in 2004 to 10.6% in 2008.?A concerted effort is still needed to prevent new infections especially in the 15-24 age group. Some 77 % of the new infections among young people each year are among young women, showing a clear need to focus prevention efforts on young girls, or efforts that will indirectly benefit young women. The new national HIV/AIDS strategic plan, which is currently being developed, will focus on prevention but we need the goodwill of all Namibian people, the strong commitment of all sectors, and especially the involvement of men willing to act as role models,? she said.According to de Putter, statistics show that despite increased knowledge about HIV in the Namibian population, people do not seem to be changing their behaviours. ?The drivers of the HIV epidemic that have been identified are: multiple and concurrent partnerships (MCP); inconsistent condom use/unprotected sex; alcohol abuse; transactional sex; and lack of knowledge about HIV status (HIV testing),? she said.The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, with its Take Control Partnership, she added, will be launching a new national campaign addressing MCP. The concept of avoiding concurrent partnerships (next partner within 6-12 weeks) is not clearly understood and this information needs to trickle down to communities. According to de Putter, treatment costs to the Ministry of Health currently stand at N$2 200 per ART patient per year for drugs and routine laboratory only. If human resources and overhead costs are included, this rises to N$3 800.

Massive aid needed for Children with AIDS

The National Global Campaign on Children and AIDS is aware of ? ? the urgent need to massively upscale the response for children and adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS, and to mobilize the partnerships and resources necessary to do so. The Global Campaign has been prepared with all the key global partners of UNICEF. The campaign will focus on the ‘4Ps’, according to UNICEF. The 4P’s that the campaign will focus on are: primary prevention for adolescents from HIV infection; prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV; paediatric AIDS treatment and care as well as the protection of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDSThe Global Campaign on Children and AIDS was launched at the Polytechnic Hotel School on 25 October. This campaign is aimed at the devastating impact AIDS has on the world’s children and adolescents, according to UNICEF. According to UNICEF, the campaign aims to scale up interventions, to mobilise commitment, to place children more prominently on the international HIV/AIDS agenda, to mobilise resources and partners and to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s), as well as the Medium Term Strategic Plan (MTSP) priorities and to protect child survival gains. According to Eiichi Shimizu, assistant communications officer at UNICEF, the campaign is jointly launched by the UNICEF Global Campaign and the four ministries responsible for programmes related to Children and AIDS in Namibia.Sportswoman Agnes Samaria, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, said at the launch that ? ? while important gains have been made in global funding for HIV/AIDS, children remain dangerously underserved?.

The Women’s Leadership Centre has launched a project on women and HIV/AIDS and also held a workshop on those issues from 12 to 14 October. The workshop was attended by 30 women living with or affected by HIV/AIDS from all over Namibia, and it will result in a storybook as well as a social reader on gender, sexuality and HIV/AIDS.Elizabeth /Khaxas, director of the Women?s Leadership Centre, said, ?HIV/AIDS is a disease of inequality and marginalisation. Eradication of gender inequalities must become the main strategy for preventing the spread of the disease. Women and girls who know and can exercise their rights will understand their right to life as a right to struggle for. ?Increasing poverty in Namibia is one of the reasons that puts women and girls at risk,? Nadia Ihuhua, one of the workshop participants, said. ?Women who are dependent on boyfriends and husbands will not have the courage to demand the use of condoms. You cannot say no to unprotected sex at night and ask your boyfriend in the morning to give you taxi money.? According to the press statement, the workshop participants demand that government makes women?s employment a priority.Many years after the Combating of the Domestic Violence Act and the Rape Act have been passed, hundred of thousands of Namibian women are still not aware of how these Acts protect them, it is stated in the press release. In the meantime, violence against women and children continues unabated in this country. Roswita Ndumbu from Rundu said, ?Domestic violence makes especially married women vulnerable to HIV, because they cannot insist on condom use for fear of being beaten up. These unacceptable levels of violence against women and children cannot be tolerated anymore. We need a countrywide campaign to educate all women and girls on these Acts as well as on their human rights so that women can actually use them to protect themselves from violence as well as from HIV and Aids.?According to the press release, stigmas still has a deadly effect on our people because people are afraid to go for testing, which can save lives. /Khaxas said that post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is not available in all the hospitals in the country. Many doctors are also not sure about how to how to administer these lifesaving medicines. Women have the right to PEP, and it is not a privilege in cases where women have been raped or when condoms have failed.

International donors pledged a total of US$3.7 billion (N$24 billion) to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the two-year period of 2006 and 2007.Namibia is one of the beneficiaries of the Fund and has already received donations in excess of N$100 million.?The pledges made here today will go a long way towards ensuring the longer-term sustainability of the Global Fund,? said United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who chaired the replenishment conference. ?They will help countries establish comprehensive programs to fight AIDS, TB and malaria and they will provide us all with an important source of hope and encouragement for the future.?The conference was the last of three meetings to assess Global Fund performance and resource needs.?We are investing more in the Global Fund because needs are growing to tackle these diseases and the Global Fund needs to keep pace with that,? said Hilary Benn, UK Secretary of State for International Development.?The amount pledged by 29 donors in London represents more than half of the Global Fund?s total resource needs of US$7 billion (N$50 billion) for the two-year period. A follow-up conference will be held in June 2006 to secure additional pledges.?This is the first time the Global Fund has attempted a formal replenishment process,? said Dr Richard Feachem, executive director of the Global Fund.?The Global Fund is a unique global public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing.The Global Fund has so far committed US$3.7 billion to over 300 programs in 127 countries. Around 60 percent of this funding has gone to Africa, and 55 percent to fighting HIV/AIDS.

PROGRAMME LAUNCHED TO ADDRESS

The Southern African Editors Forum (SAEF) and twelve organisations last week launched the Southern African Media Action Plan on HIV/AIDS & Gender (MAP).MAP is a three-year programme that brings together a unique partnership between the media industry, civil society and the international community that aims to improve the quality of media reporting on HIV/AIDS & gender and to mitigate the impact of the epidemic on the media industry in Southern Africa.It aims to achieve this through supporting media organisations in developing workplace based policies and programmes; setting standards for media reporting on HIV/AIDS & gender; training for editors and journalists on reporting on HIV/AIDS & gender and ensuring that the media have access to accurate and reliable information on the epidemic.?For too long the media in Southern Africa have turned its lens on how others are responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic while being complacent about its own actions. MAP turns the lens back onto the media industry and asks it to ?make the promise? in responding to the AIDS epidemic and to ensure that gender is mainstreamed into reporting?, said Rob Jamieson, chairperson of the Southern African Editors Forum.