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Programmes for AIDS, TB could do better

Programmes for AIDS, TB could do better

CHURCH and civil society organisations deliver important support services to communities and people affected by HIV-AIDS and tuberculosis but this could improve with better co-ordination.

This recommendation is made in several reports compiled for the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Experts and consultants under the University of Namibia’s Central Consultancy Bureau (UCCB) reported back to the Ministry’s officials 10 days ago.Catholic Aids Action (CAA), the Namibia Red Cross Society, the HIV-AIDS Management Unit (Hamu) of the Education Ministry and Lironga Iparu were scrutinised as well as DAPP (Development from People to People) and the Ombetja Yehinga Reorganisation (OYO).Dr Norbert Forster, Under Secretary in the Health Ministry, said the reports were prepared for a regional meeting to be held in Windhoek this month with representatives of the Global Fund to combat AIDS, TB and Malaria.The research was conducted in the Erongo, Kavango, Khomas and Omusati regions in the form of interviews with beneficiaries.Consultants looked at support for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs), TB patients, life skills for the youth and people living with HIV-AIDS.While no figures were given of beneficiaries receiving care and support services like home-based care, food parcels and payment of school fees, the reports noted that the different organisations tried their best but often lacked manpower and funds to reach all the needy.”Catholic Aids Care pays a lot of school funds for OVCs, although the Education Ministry’s policy clearly stipulates that OVCs are exempt from school fees,” one of the four reports noted.”These funds paid by CAA could be rather used for other services rendered, but some schools and their headmasters insist on the payment of school fees.”The HIV-AIDS Management Unit of the Education Ministry had performed the poorest, according to the consultants.Often children did not know about a Hamu representative at their schools and were not aware of its services like arranging support for OVCs and counselling.”In three weeks we will hold a mid-term review of the third Medium Term Plan against HIV-AIDS, and these four reports will tie in with the review.We will set the stage for the next five to eight years of the AIDS policy,” said Dr Forster at the meeting.Experts and consultants under the University of Namibia’s Central Consultancy Bureau (UCCB) reported back to the Ministry’s officials 10 days ago.Catholic Aids Action (CAA), the Namibia Red Cross Society, the HIV-AIDS Management Unit (Hamu) of the Education Ministry and Lironga Iparu were scrutinised as well as DAPP (Development from People to People) and the Ombetja Yehinga Reorganisation (OYO).Dr Norbert Forster, Under Secretary in the Health Ministry, said the reports were prepared for a regional meeting to be held in Windhoek this month with representatives of the Global Fund to combat AIDS, TB and Malaria.The research was conducted in the Erongo, Kavango, Khomas and Omusati regions in the form of interviews with beneficiaries.Consultants looked at support for orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs), TB patients, life skills for the youth and people living with HIV-AIDS.While no figures were given of beneficiaries receiving care and support services like home-based care, food parcels and payment of school fees, the reports noted that the different organisations tried their best but often lacked manpower and funds to reach all the needy.”Catholic Aids Care pays a lot of school funds for OVCs, although the Education Ministry’s policy clearly stipulates that OVCs are exempt from school fees,” one of the four reports noted.”These funds paid by CAA could be rather used for other services rendered, but some schools and their headmasters insist on the payment of school fees.”The HIV-AIDS Management Unit of the Education Ministry had performed the poorest, according to the consultants.Often children did not know about a Hamu representative at their schools and were not aware of its services like arranging support for OVCs and counselling.”In three weeks we will hold a mid-term review of the third Medium Term Plan against HIV-AIDS, and these four reports will tie in with the review.We will set the stage for the next five to eight years of the AIDS policy,” said Dr Forster at the meeting.

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