‘Keeping the Promise’

The US Ambassador to Namibia, Joyce A Barr, addresses the Namibian-US Partnership on HIV-AIDS: WORLD AIDS Day is December 1: This is an opportunity for us to come together in a spirit of remembrance for those who have been lost to this disease, compassion for those who are suffering today, and commitment to help others remain free from infection.

Despite the continuing tragedy of HIV-AIDS, there is hope. The successes achieved through the partnership between Namibia and the United States truly demonstrate the difference that action can make.The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is ‘Keep the Promise’, and the United States is doing just that.In 2003, President George W.Bush led the world into action when he announced the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – a five-year, US$15 billion, multifaceted approach to combating the disease around the world.This is the largest international health initiative directed at a single disease that any nation has ever undertaken.America has kept its promise and is now working in partnership with 123 nations – including Namibia – to support sustainable, locally-driven responses to the pandemic.Namibia is one of 15 nations in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia that account for approximately one-half of the world’s infections and receive intensified US government support.In 2006, the US investment in its partnership with Namibia is expected to total US$52,9 million (N$340 million), rising from committed US$21 million (N$136 million) in 2004 and $42,8 million in 2005 (N$278 million).The Emergency Plan supports diverse prevention, care and treatment strategies, with an intense focus on making the money work.The heart of this strategy is a partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Welfare, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and a variety of non-governmental and faith-based organisations to build a locally-driven response to the pandemic.HIV-AIDS will be a fact of life for many years to come in Namibia, and the fight against HIV-AIDS will only succeed today, and be sustainable tomorrow, it is owned by the people of Namibia.Speaking of the African context recently, President Bush said: “This effort is succeeding because America is providing resources and Africans are providing leadership.Local health officials set the strategy and we’re supporting them.”The Emergency Plan is working in support of Namibia’s national HIV-AIDS strategy, helping to build a comprehensive and effective national response that can be sustained for the long term.Since 2000, the US has supported Namibia’s efforts to build effective, community-based responses to HIV-AIDS.Namibia is one of 15 focus countries of the Emergency Plan which collectively represent at least 50 per cent of HIV infections worldwide.Thanks to excellent partnership with the Namibian government and Namibian non-governmental and faith-based organisations, the targets set for 2008 will be met in 2006.It is estimated that over 10 000 Namibians are now receiving life-extending anti-retroviral treatment through state and mission medical facilities.The US Department of State, US Agency for International Development (USAID), US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Peace Corps and US Department of Defence (DOD) work together to support the Emergency Plan.The Emergency Plan provides a team of technical advisors at the national level on HIV-AIDS and TB-HIV prevention, care, and treatment to increase capacity to deliver services through policy development, guidelines, management support, monitoring and evaluation and training, as well as a range of other assistance.Through a variety of activities in support of the national programme, more than 14 000 patients have been started on treatment for HIV-AIDS since 2003, more than 100 public sites are now providing services to prevent mother-to-child transmission, and more than 100 counsellors have been added to the health system to provide counselling and testing services.The Emergency Plan also provides care and support services to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), reduces the spread of HIV through prevention activities, and supports Namibia’s national TB programme.These programmes provided home-based care to 19,000 people and services to 25 000 OVC.Over 28 000 clients received counselling and testing at 14 centres.Peace Corps Namibia is rapidly increasing the number of Volunteers partnering with Namibians in community health.Approximately 100 volunteers are in the field, of which 19 are working on HIV-AIDS related projects full-time.By working at the regional and community levels, Peace Corps Volunteers have been able to help strengthen capacity in the areas of outreach, training and prevention.Year 2005 reports reflect that over 11 000 men and women have been reached in over 600 communities, and 930 individuals have received training.During 2005, a partnership between the Namibian Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence, through the Military Action and Prevention Programme (MAPP) have provided education, counselling and testing at 23 Namibian military bases and bush camps for almost 8 000 military soldiers and trained 96 commanders.HIV-AIDS is an incredibly complex disease, and the Emergency Plan supports a correspondingly varied range of locally-designed interventions.To help people protect themselves, the partnership between the United States and Namibia supports the ‘ABC’ strategies developed in Africa (abstain, be faithful, and correct and consistent use of condoms).Other key prevention efforts focus on increasing HIV counselling and testing, preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, ensuring safe blood and safe medical injections, and meeting the special challenges of women and girls.Treatment is another key element.When the initiative was announced, there were only 50 000 people receiving lifesaving anti-retroviral treatment in sub-Saharan Africa.The United States initiative has supported locally-owned, multi-sectoral programmes in Africa that have vastly increased this figure – and the number continues to grow rapidly.The United States is working with Namibia to support care for people living with HIV-AIDS and for orphans and vulnerable children on a massive scale.The successes of the partnership between Namibia and the United States in making the money work on the ground today and in building sustainable responses provide a strong foundation for the future.The American people are proud to be partnering with Namibia, creating hope for a future free of HIV-AIDS.The successes achieved through the partnership between Namibia and the United States truly demonstrate the difference that action can make.The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is ‘Keep the Promise’, and the United States is doing just that.In 2003, President George W.Bush led the world into action when he announced the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – a five-year, US$15 billion, multifaceted approach to combating the disease around the world.This is the largest international health initiative directed at a single disease that any nation has ever undertaken. America has kept its promise and is now working in partnership with 123 nations – including Namibia – to support sustainable, locally-driven responses to the pandemic.Namibia is one of 15 nations in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia that account for approximately one-half of the world’s infections and receive intensified US government support. In 2006, the US investment in its partnership with Namibia is expected to total US$52,9 million (N$340 million), rising from committed US$21 million (N$136 million) in 2004 and $42,8 million in 2005 (N$278 million).The Emergency Plan supports diverse prevention, care and treatment strategies, with an intense focus on making the money work.The heart of this strategy is a partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Welfare, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and a variety of non-governmental and faith-based organisations to build a locally-driven response to the pandemic.HIV-AIDS will be a fact of life for many years to come in Namibia, and the fight against HIV-AIDS will only succeed today, and be sustainable tomorrow, it is owned by the people of Namibia. Speaking of the African context recently, President Bush said: “This effort is succeeding because America is providing resources and Africans are providing leadership.Local health officials set the strategy and we’re supporting them.”The Emergency Plan is working in support of Namibia’s national HIV-AIDS strategy, helping to build a comprehensive and effective national response that can be sustained for the long term.Since 2000, the US has supported Namibia’s efforts to build effective, community-based responses to HIV-AIDS.Namibia is one of 15 focus countries of the Emergency Plan which collectively represent at least 50 per cent of HIV infections worldwide.Thanks to excellent partnership with the Namibian government and Namibian non-governmental and faith-based organisations, the targets set for 2008 will be met in 2006.It is estimated that over 10 000 Namibians are now receiving life-extending anti-retroviral treatment through state and mission medical facilities.The US Department of State, US Agency for International Development (USAID), US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Peace Corps and US Department of Defence (DOD) work together to support the Emergency Plan.The Emergency Plan provides a team of technical advisors at the national level on HIV-AIDS and TB-HIV prevention, care, and treatment to increase capacity to deliver services through policy development, guidelines, management support, monitoring and evaluation and training, as well as a range of other assistance.Through a variety of activities in support of the national programme, more than 14 000 patients have been started on treatment for HIV-AIDS since 2003, more than 100 public sites are now providing services to prevent mother-to-child transmission, and more than 100 counsellors have been added to the health system to provide counselling and testing services.The Emergency Plan also provides care and support services to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), reduces the spread of HIV through prevention activities, and supports Namibia’s national TB programme.These programmes provided home-based care to 19,000 people and services to 25 000 OVC.Over 28 000 clients received counselling and testing at 14 centres.Peace Corps Namibia is rapidly increasing the number of Volunteers partnering with Namibians in community health.Approximately 100 volunteers are in the field, of which 19 are working on HIV-AIDS related projects full-time.By working at the regional and community levels, Peace Corps Volunteers have been able to help strengthen capacity in the areas of outreach, training and prevention.Year 2005 reports reflect that over 11 000 men and women have been reached in over 600 communities, and 930 individuals have received training.During 2005, a partnership between the Namibian Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence, through the Military Action and Prevention Programme (MAPP) have provided education, counselling and testing at 23 Namibian military bases and bush camps for almost 8 000 military soldiers and trained 96 commanders.HIV-AIDS is an incredibly complex disease, and the Emergency Plan supports a correspondingly varied range of locally-designed interventions.To help people protect themselves, the partnership between the United States and Namibia supports the ‘ABC’ strategies developed in Africa (abstain, be faithful, and correct and consistent use of condoms).Other key prevention efforts focus on increasing HIV counselling and testing, preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, ensuring safe blood and safe medical injections, and meeting the special challenges of women and girls.Treatment is another key element.When the initiative was announced, there were only 50 000 people receiving lifesaving anti-retroviral treatment in sub-Saharan Africa.The United States initiative has supported locally-owned, multi-sectoral programmes in Africa that have vastly increased this figure – and the number continues to grow rapidly.The United States is working with Namibia to support care for people living with HIV-AIDS and for orphans and vulnerable children on a massive scale.The successes of the partnership between Namibia and the United States in making the money work on the ground today and in building sustainable responses provide a strong foundation for the future.The American people are proud to be partnering with Namibia, creating hope for a future free of HIV-AIDS.