HIV campaign exceeds expectations

MORE than 33 800 people volunteered for free HIV testing during the national HIV testing campaign in May.

The Director of Health in Oshana, Dr Naftali Hamata, announced the results of the campaign at Oshakati recently. Dr Hamata said of the 33 823 people who were tested, 3 043 were found to be HIV positive.He said the target of the campaign was to test 12 000 people, but the public response was so good that the figure was almost three times higher.Hamata said that the Caprivi Region, where 2 258 people were tested, had the highest number of HIV-positive people at 461.The second highest incidence was found in the Khomas Region, where 410 of the 5 854 participants tested positive.According to the latest projections, Namibia now has 188 000 people with HIV.Hamata said the health authorities aimed to test 203 000 Namibians for HIV this year.He also announced the results of the polio immunisation campaign in Oshana last month.The campaign reached 94,5 per cent of its target, with 21 986 children receiving polio vaccines in the region.A second round of polio immunisation will take place towards the end of this month.Dr Hamata said of the 33 823 people who were tested, 3 043 were found to be HIV positive.He said the target of the campaign was to test 12 000 people, but the public response was so good that the figure was almost three times higher.Hamata said that the Caprivi Region, where 2 258 people were tested, had the highest number of HIV-positive people at 461.The second highest incidence was found in the Khomas Region, where 410 of the 5 854 participants tested positive.According to the latest projections, Namibia now has 188 000 people with HIV.Hamata said the health authorities aimed to test 203 000 Namibians for HIV this year.He also announced the results of the polio immunisation campaign in Oshana last month.The campaign reached 94,5 per cent of its target, with 21 986 children receiving polio vaccines in the region.A second round of polio immunisation will take place towards the end of this month.