Well Done, Health Ministry

THE Ministry of Health and Social Services must be congratulated for launching the National Policy on HIV-AIDS.

Hopefully this will not be just another nice policy with no practical use. Namibia is strong in producing excellent national policies, but in most cases, weak in implementing and monitoring them.It is good to see that the policy emphasises the need for involvement and leading role of HIV-positive people in combating HIV and AIDS.It is also pleasing that the policy recognises the need to include people with disabilities who are usually left out when HIV and AIDS activities are undertaken.However, these good intentions must be put into action to bring real benefits to the people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS in our country.Some of the weaknesses of the policy include too much emphasis on AIDS treatment as opposed to community care and support services.It is important to remember that if HIV-positive people are given adequate care and support in the community it will delay the need for antiretroviral treatment.The leadership roles of those with authority at all levels needed to be given more prominence in the policy as well.There are very few excellent village and constituency leaders who are providing effective leadership in fighting HIV and AIDS in their areas.But many village and constituency leaders do not take the fight against HIV and AIDS seriously.Some constituency councillors for example appear to pay more attention to political rather than HIV and AIDS matters.It is not unusual for a councillor to skip a RACOC meeting in favour of going to spruce up his car because he has to go and meet the President who will be arriving in the region the following day.Consequently many RACOCs, let alone CACOCs, are ineffective at the moment.For real benefits to be gained from the policy, implementation and monitoring should be strong at RACOCs and CACOCs levels as institutions that are close to the people.These regional and constituency bodies need to support community initiatives aimed at combating HIV and AIDS and not forgetting that adequate food and clean water are essential in fighting HIV and AIDS.C H Mwandingi Via e-mailNamibia is strong in producing excellent national policies, but in most cases, weak in implementing and monitoring them.It is good to see that the policy emphasises the need for involvement and leading role of HIV-positive people in combating HIV and AIDS.It is also pleasing that the policy recognises the need to include people with disabilities who are usually left out when HIV and AIDS activities are undertaken.However, these good intentions must be put into action to bring real benefits to the people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS in our country.Some of the weaknesses of the policy include too much emphasis on AIDS treatment as opposed to community care and support services.It is important to remember that if HIV-positive people are given adequate care and support in the community it will delay the need for antiretroviral treatment.The leadership roles of those with authority at all levels needed to be given more prominence in the policy as well.There are very few excellent village and constituency leaders who are providing effective leadership in fighting HIV and AIDS in their areas.But many village and constituency leaders do not take the fight against HIV and AIDS seriously.Some constituency councillors for example appear to pay more attention to political rather than HIV and AIDS matters.It is not unusual for a councillor to skip a RACOC meeting in favour of going to spruce up his car because he has to go and meet the President who will be arriving in the region the following day.Consequently many RACOCs, let alone CACOCs, are ineffective at the moment.For real benefits to be gained from the policy, implementation and monitoring should be strong at RACOCs and CACOCs levels as institutions that are close to the people.These regional and constituency bodies need to support community initiatives aimed at combating HIV and AIDS and not forgetting that adequate food and clean water are essential in fighting HIV and AIDS.C H Mwandingi Via e-mail