HIV-AIDS research database set up

INSTITUTIONS of higher learning in Namibia have created a special database of research documents with regard to HIV-AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, which is freely accessible via the Internet.

Launching the database on Friday, Professor Lazarus Hangula, Vice Chancellor of the University of Namibia, said the virtual library, which is available on Unam’s website, was supported by the Dutch government and the European Union. “Our working group, which includes officials from the Ministry of Health and the Polytechnic, agreed that the Polytechnic would administer the necessary funding to develop this database.It is user friendly and easily accessible.”According to Professor Tjama Tjivikua, Rector of the Polytechnic, his institution was responsible for co-ordinating and implementing the activities and for setting up the database.”It will allow our students, professionals, donor agencies and Government to identify the gaps in the available literature and information about HIV-AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, thus creating opportunities for further support towards social science research in all spheres of health,” Tjivikua added.Health Minister Richard Kamwi, who officially launched the database, said research was often regarded as a luxury, but too often research results were underused.”How often do we consult research literature when we draft plans? My impression is that we are operating in isolation and on our different islands,” Kamwi said.The European Union gave financial support for the project.”Total EU support to the Health Ministry for managing the national HIV-AIDS response amounts to N$30 million,” said EU Ambassador to Namibia, Dr Elisabeth Pape.Establishing the new database was only a first step, Papae added.”Soon it will be linked to the HIV-AIDS training database, which will show all the training available on the this topic in Namibia,” the EU Ambassador added.Financial assistance also came from the Dutch AIDS Fund and the Dutch Ministry of Development Cooperation.According to Dr Norbert Forster, Undersecretary at the Health Ministry, Unam produced most locally initiated research on HIV-AIDS in Namibia and had an extensive collection of reports on the topic.”The database (wwwisis.unam.na) is easily accessible via the Internet and will be updated regularly to reflect the latest research,” Forster said.Users can search for titles, subject terms, keywords, authors’ names, organisations or journals.For some publications the link is provided to the actual document.In cases where the document cannot be accessed because of copyright restrictions, the user is linked to a physical library where the document can be accessed.”Our working group, which includes officials from the Ministry of Health and the Polytechnic, agreed that the Polytechnic would administer the necessary funding to develop this database.It is user friendly and easily accessible.”According to Professor Tjama Tjivikua, Rector of the Polytechnic, his institution was responsible for co-ordinating and implementing the activities and for setting up the database.”It will allow our students, professionals, donor agencies and Government to identify the gaps in the available literature and information about HIV-AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, thus creating opportunities for further support towards social science research in all spheres of health,” Tjivikua added.Health Minister Richard Kamwi, who officially launched the database, said research was often regarded as a luxury, but too often research results were underused.”How often do we consult research literature when we draft plans? My impression is that we are operating in isolation and on our different islands,” Kamwi said.The European Union gave financial support for the project.”Total EU support to the Health Ministry for managing the national HIV-AIDS response amounts to N$30 million,” said EU Ambassador to Namibia, Dr Elisabeth Pape.Establishing the new database was only a first step, Papae added.”Soon it will be linked to the HIV-AIDS training database, which will show all the training available on the this topic in Namibia,” the EU Ambassador added.Financial assistance also came from the Dutch AIDS Fund and the Dutch Ministry of Development Cooperation.According to Dr Norbert Forster, Undersecretary at the Health Ministry, Unam produced most locally initiated research on HIV-AIDS in Namibia and had an extensive collection of reports on the topic.”The database (wwwisis.unam.na) is easily accessible via the Internet and will be updated regularly to reflect the latest research,” Forster said.Users can search for titles, subject terms, keywords, authors’ names, organisations or journals.For some publications the link is provided to the actual document.In cases where the document cannot be accessed because of copyright restrictions, the user is linked to a physical library where the document can be accessed.