Amathila calls for HIV tests before marriage

OSHAKATI – Health and Social Services Minister Dr Libertina Amathila called on couples to undergo voluntary HIV counselling and testing before marriage to save lives from the HIV-AIDS pandemic.

Amathila made the call while officially inaugurating the Oshakati New Start Centre at the Tonateni Centre of Catholic AIDS Action on Tuesday. Said Amathila: “If you decide on getting married, the couple must get tested before marriage, so that you know your partner’s HIV status beforehand”.The Health Minister believes that 90 per cent of Namibians know that HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is the best way to prevent HIV-AIDS.”Knowing your status is crucial, regardless of age, status or gender, as it gives you the power to prolong your health and it is your best defence against HIV-AIDS,” Amathila emphasised.Without knowing one’s status, Amathila believes, a person is at risk, as he/she does not know what the future holds for them, their partner or the workplace.Apart from the increasing numbers of HIV-infected people, Amathila expressed concern over orphans left behind by parents as a result of the pandemic as well as absenteeism from the workplace.”The statistics on HIV-AIDS speak loud and clear to us all.We are facing a crisis in which the number of HIV-infected people is increasing every day,” the Minister warned.She pointed out that the Government had budgeted for anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment to prolong the lives of the affected and urged those undergoing ARV treatment not to miss a single day and hour of taking the drugs.According to Amathila, ARV and the Prevention of Mother to Child (PMTC) treatment had been extended to 17 of the 35 hospitals in the country and it would be provided to the rest of the hospitals in the near future (possibly towards the end of this year).Since the ARV and PMTC treatments are available, Amathila said the challenge was for all citizens to undergo testing at their nearest New Start Centres or health facilities.Ambassador Antonius Brueser of the European Commission, Charge d’Affaires of the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Huub Hendrik, and Father Rick Bauer of Catholic AIDS Action also attended the inauguration event.- NampaSaid Amathila: “If you decide on getting married, the couple must get tested before marriage, so that you know your partner’s HIV status beforehand”.The Health Minister believes that 90 per cent of Namibians know that HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) is the best way to prevent HIV-AIDS.”Knowing your status is crucial, regardless of age, status or gender, as it gives you the power to prolong your health and it is your best defence against HIV-AIDS,” Amathila emphasised.Without knowing one’s status, Amathila believes, a person is at risk, as he/she does not know what the future holds for them, their partner or the workplace.Apart from the increasing numbers of HIV-infected people, Amathila expressed concern over orphans left behind by parents as a result of the pandemic as well as absenteeism from the workplace.”The statistics on HIV-AIDS speak loud and clear to us all.We are facing a crisis in which the number of HIV-infected people is increasing every day,” the Minister warned.She pointed out that the Government had budgeted for anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment to prolong the lives of the affected and urged those undergoing ARV treatment not to miss a single day and hour of taking the drugs.According to Amathila, ARV and the Prevention of Mother to Child (PMTC) treatment had been extended to 17 of the 35 hospitals in the country and it would be provided to the rest of the hospitals in the near future (possibly towards the end of this year).Since the ARV and PMTC treatments are available, Amathila said the challenge was for all citizens to undergo testing at their nearest New Start Centres or health facilities.Ambassador Antonius Brueser of the European Commission, Charge d’Affaires of the Royal Netherlands Embassy, Huub Hendrik, and Father Rick Bauer of Catholic AIDS Action also attended the inauguration event.- Nampa