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Friday, April 26, 2002 - Web posted at 7:21:18 pm GMT

Long way to go on AIDS struggle

THE City of Windhoek still has a long way to go before it can reduce the rate of HIV-AIDS infections, City Mayor Matheus Shikongo said at Wednesday's Monthly Council meeting.

"Poverty and HIV-AIDS remain critical priority issues on the City Council's agenda in particular and the country as a whole," Shikongo said.

"Women continue to bear the brunt of the epidemic. Not only are more women infected than men, more women are affected by the disease - financially, socially, legally and many other ways," he said.

"The relationship between poverty and HIV-AIDS transmission can therefore not be understated."

He said women should be empowered and the City of Windhoek would ensure the active involvement and participation of women in the formulation of programmes and plans.