NamPort expands ‘We Care’ project to HIV-AIDS front

THE Namibia Port Authority (NamPort) at Walvis Bay last week launched an HIV-AIDS Surveillance Study Campaign under the theme ‘I am tested, what about you’.

In terms of the programme, employees will be tested anonymously and voluntarily using a saliva test. The Managing Director of NamPort, Sebby Kankondi, said the test would be unlinked, meaning a sample could not be traced back to a particular person through a number or identifying mark.Speaking at the launch of the programme, Kankondi said the aim was to establish the HIV-prevalence rate and the impact of infection on the company.It would also help the company to establish HIV infection and selected demographic behavioural variables.”Knowing this will help us in planning, budgeting and forecasting our health promotion activities, and will be useful in monitoring and evaluating the HIV-AIDS prevention programme,” he told employees.The surveillance campaign forms phase three of the ‘NamPort Cares’ programme.The first phase involved the appointment of a health councillor, a part-time doctor, the implementation of an HIV-AIDS policy and programme and the training of peer educators.Phase 2 was the launch of the HIV-AIDS programme.Kankondi said that following the surveillance testing there would be a further phase to present the results of the testing to employees.Other envisaged activities include voluntary counselling and testing for employees, the provision of anti-retroviral drugs and home-based care and the establishment of an HIV-AIDS hotline that would allow employees to call in and ask questions and receive counselling when needed.”We are also going to provide nutritional supplements, such as pap [porridge], to boost the immune system of infected employees,” said Kankondi.Through its social responsibility programme, the company would also strive to facilitate and advance community activities that could mitigate the impact of HIV-AIDS.Last year the Rössing uranium mine undertook similar testing with 88 per cent of the total workforce taking part.The results indicated that more than 90 per cent of employees were free of HIV.The testing was also done on a voluntary and anonymous basis to ensure that HIV-positive cases could not be identified.The Managing Director of NamPort, Sebby Kankondi, said the test would be unlinked, meaning a sample could not be traced back to a particular person through a number or identifying mark.Speaking at the launch of the programme, Kankondi said the aim was to establish the HIV-prevalence rate and the impact of infection on the company.It would also help the company to establish HIV infection and selected demographic behavioural variables.”Knowing this will help us in planning, budgeting and forecasting our health promotion activities, and will be useful in monitoring and evaluating the HIV-AIDS prevention programme,” he told employees.The surveillance campaign forms phase three of the ‘NamPort Cares’ programme.The first phase involved the appointment of a health councillor, a part-time doctor, the implementation of an HIV-AIDS policy and programme and the training of peer educators.Phase 2 was the launch of the HIV-AIDS programme.Kankondi said that following the surveillance testing there would be a further phase to present the results of the testing to employees.Other envisaged activities include voluntary counselling and testing for employees, the provision of anti-retroviral drugs and home-based care and the establishment of an HIV-AIDS hotline that would allow employees to call in and ask questions and receive counselling when needed.”We are also going to provide nutritional supplements, such as pap [porridge], to boost the immune system of infected employees,” said Kankondi.Through its social responsibility programme, the company would also strive to facilitate and advance community activities that could mitigate the impact of HIV-AIDS.Last year the Rössing uranium mine undertook similar testing with 88 per cent of the total workforce taking part.The results indicated that more than 90 per cent of employees were free of HIV.The testing was also done on a voluntary and anonymous basis to ensure that HIV-positive cases could not be identified.