PM pushes for greater openness on HIV-AIDS

PRIME Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab has called on Namibians to go for voluntary counselling and testing as part of fighting the stigma associated with HIV-AIDS.

Opening the sixth New Start Centre for Voluntary Counselling and Testing at Rundu on Wednesday, Gurirab described the pandemic as the greatest tragedy of the 21st century and a vicious enemy against life itself and human civilisation. “It is only through a strengthened and collective response that we can stop the spread of the killer disease, provide care to those infected and affected and eliminate the shameful stigmatisation of the sufferers,” said Gurirab.He said Government would continue to update policy priorities, objectives and interventions with special emphasis on the plight of AIDS orphans, vulnerable children and pregnant women.Statistics on the impact of the disease on society were “mind-boggling”, the Prime Minister said.Three years ago, there were 115 000 orphans in Namibia and, according to Gurirab, some 75 per cent were a result of HIV-AIDS.”We are told the figure has drastically escalated since then.The effects of HIV AIDS adversely permeate the whole country,” Gurirab said.”It is only through a strengthened and collective response that we can stop the spread of the killer disease, provide care to those infected and affected and eliminate the shameful stigmatisation of the sufferers,” said Gurirab.He said Government would continue to update policy priorities, objectives and interventions with special emphasis on the plight of AIDS orphans, vulnerable children and pregnant women.Statistics on the impact of the disease on society were “mind-boggling”, the Prime Minister said.Three years ago, there were 115 000 orphans in Namibia and, according to Gurirab, some 75 per cent were a result of HIV-AIDS.”We are told the figure has drastically escalated since then.The effects of HIV AIDS adversely permeate the whole country,” Gurirab said.