Traditional leaders urged to take lead role in HIV battle

PRIME Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab has appealed to traditional leaders to encourage young people in their communities to change their sexual habits in order to reduce HIV infection.

Officially opening the 7th annual meeting of the Council of Traditional Leaders in the capital on Monday, Gurirab called on traditional leaders to take a lead in the ongoing HIV-AIDS awareness campaigns. He said HIV-AIDS was the biggest challenge facing the country and needed to tackled at every level possible.The Premier also urged traditional leaders to sensitise their communities to participate in the voter education and registration, as Namibia was approaching key elections.”It will be a laudable act of patriotism and pride to feels as sense of duty to go out to vote,” said Gurirab, adding that elections fuelled democracy.”Democracy must be kept alive.Democracy will get sick and suffer, if we do not want it,” he said.The meeting of the CTL, which is being attended by 86 traditional leaders and their senior councillors, ends on Friday.The CTL advises the Head of State on traditional matters.He said HIV-AIDS was the biggest challenge facing the country and needed to tackled at every level possible.The Premier also urged traditional leaders to sensitise their communities to participate in the voter education and registration, as Namibia was approaching key elections.”It will be a laudable act of patriotism and pride to feels as sense of duty to go out to vote,” said Gurirab, adding that elections fuelled democracy.”Democracy must be kept alive.Democracy will get sick and suffer, if we do not want it,” he said.The meeting of the CTL, which is being attended by 86 traditional leaders and their senior councillors, ends on Friday.The CTL advises the Head of State on traditional matters.