Morality best AIDS medicine: MP

HIV-AIDS is a disease of the poor, says Swapo Member of Parliament Ida Hoffmann.

“While HIV-AIDS is claimed to be non-discriminative in terms of the spectrum of the population that it effects, it can be termed a poor man’s disease,” she said. Speaking at the launch of the U-Khai/Yelula project focusing on community responses to HIV-AIDS on Friday at Keetmanshoop, Hofmann said poor communities are highly susceptible to HIV-AIDS.Hoffmann said moral and traditional values are needed in the fight against HIV-AIDS.”We will need to revert back to our religious and moral as well as traditional values.It is only the return to our most basic moral and traditional values that can potentially save us from the HIV-AIDS pandemic,” she advised.She added that the extended-family support system also needs to be restored to take care of especially orphans and vulnerable children.Speaking at the same event, HIV-AIDS victim Terina Stibbard said openness and transparency are important elements in the fight against stigmatisation.”I’m certain that many rewarding, exciting and fruitful partnerships will grow here in Karas Region,” said Stibbard, who is the national manager of the U-Khai/Yelula project.The project, funded by the European Union, started in April this year and will run for three years.People In Need (PIN) and the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) are the implementing agencies.Speaking at the launch of the U-Khai/Yelula project focusing on community responses to HIV-AIDS on Friday at Keetmanshoop, Hofmann said poor communities are highly susceptible to HIV-AIDS.Hoffmann said moral and traditional values are needed in the fight against HIV-AIDS.”We will need to revert back to our religious and moral as well as traditional values.It is only the return to our most basic moral and traditional values that can potentially save us from the HIV-AIDS pandemic,” she advised.She added that the extended-family support system also needs to be restored to take care of especially orphans and vulnerable children.Speaking at the same event, HIV-AIDS victim Terina Stibbard said openness and transparency are important elements in the fight against stigmatisation. “I’m certain that many rewarding, exciting and fruitful partnerships will grow here in Karas Region,” said Stibbard, who is the national manager of the U-Khai/Yelula project.The project, funded by the European Union, started in April this year and will run for three years.People In Need (PIN) and the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) are the implementing agencies.