Key step in taking responsibility

SENIOR United Nations officials in Namibia rolled up their sleeves and presented themselves for voluntary HIV counselling and testing in Windhoek yesterday, calling upon political, religious and traditional leaders to do the same.

Members of the media and the UN’s development partners joined in the exercise to promote knowing one’s HIV status. “By undergoing voluntary counselling and testing, people here today understand that we cannot indulge in business as usual in the face of HIV-AIDS,” United Nations Development Programme Co-ordinator Jacqui Badcock told guests at the New Start Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Centre at the Council of Churches of Namibia in Katutura.”It is our individual responsibility to take adequate measures to protect ourselves and protect those we love.”This is one of 12 New Start Centres around Namibia that offer HIV counselling and testing.Around 1 700 people a month are coming forward to establish their status.Urging Namibian leaders to lead by example, Badcock said it would take courage and commitment from all to win in the battle against HIV.”The leadership of Namibia has a fresh chance to take a stand and lead the country’s battle against the disease,” she said, adding that openness and education must overcome stigma and denial to slow the spread of HIV.”It has been more than two decades since the disease took hold in Namibia and people are still dying and suffering because of the stigma and discrimination around HIV and a lack of knowledge,” Badcock said.The purpose of voluntary testing is to take personal responsibility, confront and defeat the stigma associated with HIV-AIDS, as well as educate people about the process and necessity of knowing your status, she said.Around 10 senior UN staff members from various agencies and half a dozen members of the media went through the voluntary counselling process preceding testing at a New Start Centre.Test results will be collected today.Breaking with the strict confidentiality around HIV testing, the UN staff and media workers allowed themselves to be named and photographed during the exercise.This does not happen, under any circumstances, when members of the public attend New Start Centres or any facility for HIV testing.”By undergoing voluntary counselling and testing, people here today understand that we cannot indulge in business as usual in the face of HIV-AIDS,” United Nations Development Programme Co-ordinator Jacqui Badcock told guests at the New Start Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Centre at the Council of Churches of Namibia in Katutura.”It is our individual responsibility to take adequate measures to protect ourselves and protect those we love.”This is one of 12 New Start Centres around Namibia that offer HIV counselling and testing.Around 1 700 people a month are coming forward to establish their status.Urging Namibian leaders to lead by example, Badcock said it would take courage and commitment from all to win in the battle against HIV.”The leadership of Namibia has a fresh chance to take a stand and lead the country’s battle against the disease,” she said, adding that openness and education must overcome stigma and denial to slow the spread of HIV.”It has been more than two decades since the disease took hold in Namibia and people are still dying and suffering because of the stigma and discrimination around HIV and a lack of knowledge,” Badcock said.The purpose of voluntary testing is to take personal responsibility, confront and defeat the stigma associated with HIV-AIDS, as well as educate people about the process and necessity of knowing your status, she said.Around 10 senior UN staff members from various agencies and half a dozen members of the media went through the voluntary counselling process preceding testing at a New Start Centre.Test results will be collected today.Breaking with the strict confidentiality around HIV testing, the UN staff and media workers allowed themselves to be named and photographed during the exercise.This does not happen, under any circumstances, when members of the public attend New Start Centres or any facility for HIV testing.