Aids Policy Doesn’t Discriminate

ALLOW me to respond to an article which appeared in The Namibian of the March 26 2007 under the heading ‘Gays and Lesbians left out of AIDS policy: LAC’.

In this article, Mr Tjombe, Director of Legal Assistance Centre is quoted stating that “… we see the retrogression of rights by the continued marginalisation of social groups such as gay and lesbian community.The removal of LGBT community leaves a big gap in the policy framework, with the attendant negative consequences, such as the increased marginalisation of community already facing severe legal and social obstacles.”This statement is most unfortunate as it comes from an organisation which we consider as a partner in the fight against HIV-AIDS epidemic.As correctly stated in the article referred to above, the Legal Assistance Centre was involved in the development of the policy.The final version of the policy was agreed upon in the meeting which was also attended by the representative of the Legal Assistance Centre.The objective of the policy is to provide a framework for the control of HIV-AIDS epidemic in Namibia and to support five strategies contained in Third Medium-term Plan (MTP III) on HIV-AIDS.The main focus of the policy is on the risk of exposure to HIV transmission.On the risk of exposure through the sexual route, the policy does not differentiate on the basis of sexual orientation, the mode of transmission, the prevention thereof and the outcomes are the same in all instances.Mr Tjombe should have noticed that heterosexual individuals were also not specified in the policy document.On the other hand, identifying certain groups in the policy document is in fact discriminatory and will fuel further discrimination and stigmatisation of these individuals on the basis of their sexual preferences.I wish to emphasise that, as long as an individual is sexually active, irrespective of his or her sexual preference, that is whether he or she is heterosexual, homosexual or lesbian, he or she is exposed to the same risk of HIV transmission.Prevention measures apply equally.The policy does not discriminate, nor does it marginalise anybody.Dr K Shangula Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Social Serviceswe see the retrogression of rights by the continued marginalisation of social groups such as gay and lesbian community.The removal of LGBT community leaves a big gap in the policy framework, with the attendant negative consequences, such as the increased marginalisation of community already facing severe legal and social obstacles.”This statement is most unfortunate as it comes from an organisation which we consider as a partner in the fight against HIV-AIDS epidemic.As correctly stated in the article referred to above, the Legal Assistance Centre was involved in the development of the policy.The final version of the policy was agreed upon in the meeting which was also attended by the representative of the Legal Assistance Centre.The objective of the policy is to provide a framework for the control of HIV-AIDS epidemic in Namibia and to support five strategies contained in Third Medium-term Plan (MTP III) on HIV-AIDS.The main focus of the policy is on the risk of exposure to HIV transmission.On the risk of exposure through the sexual route, the policy does not differentiate on the basis of sexual orientation, the mode of transmission, the prevention thereof and the outcomes are the same in all instances.Mr Tjombe should have noticed that heterosexual individuals were also not specified in the policy document.On the other hand, identifying certain groups in the policy document is in fact discriminatory and will fuel further discrimination and stigmatisation of these individuals on the basis of their sexual preferences.I wish to emphasise that, as long as an individual is sexually active, irrespective of his or her sexual preference, that is whether he or she is heterosexual, homosexual or lesbian, he or she is exposed to the same risk of HIV transmission.Prevention measures apply equally.The policy does not discriminate, nor does it marginalise anybody.Dr K Shangula Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Social Services