OSHAKATI – While commemorating World AIDS Day in Oshakati on Monday the Director of Health in Oshana Region, Sackaria Taapopi, condemned reports published this year that the Ministry of Health and Social Services had run out of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs.
He was speaking at a jam-packed commemoration at Oneshila in Oshakati where he assured those on treatment that getting syrup instead of tablets is not an indication of finished medication.
“What is important is not the syrup or tablet, but the dose,” explained Taapopi.
Taapopi explained the syrup or tablet is given according to the patient’s body reaction which is determined by test results conducted by medical officers prior to giving patients their prescriptions.
The director of health encouraged Namibians to get to know their status, prevent themselves from getting the virus and most importantly discouraged HIV tested patients to stop spreading the virus further.
In addition, he called on both the infected and affected to continue living positively.
“HIV remains a serious concern in public health and to date there is no cure hence we need everyone to partake in combating the virus,” he said.
Taapopi discouraged against discriminating against those who are affected and advised the nation to assist and encourage those who are infected to take their medication.
In addition he called for the nation to render their support to HIV-infected patients by either providing them with nutritional or moral support.
“People do not want to come out and be open, because they are scared they will be discriminated against, laughed at; we must fight discrimination,” said Taapopi.
He also encouraged men to get circumcised because circumcision lowers the chance of getting the HIV virus. However, he stressed that the issue of circumcision should not be misunderstood as a cure for the HIV virus.
The Oshakati Intermediate Hospital has an ongoing circumcision campaign but the health director said the number of men who come forward is not overwhelming.
In 2002, the HIV prevalence rate in Oshana stood at 22 percent meaning that in a population of every 100 people, 22 people were infected.
In October, the Ministry of Health and Social Services held a consultative meeting to review the National Policy on HIV/AIDS, which was drafted in 2007.
The policy provides a framework for Namibia to embark on prevention, treatment, care, support and impact medication.
The consultative meeting which was held in Ondangwa was an initiative of the ministry to tackle and look at new emerging issues that have cropped up such as gender-based violence, and the gaps and challenges identified in curbing HIV/AIDS.
The Chief Health Programme Administrator and Director of Special Programmes, Connie Podewitz, then said the ongoing review would also scrutinize the Namibia Strategic Framework to increase the impact through the creation of new strategies such as investment care for HIV development and prevention.
The event was preceded by a march and entertainment provided by the Ondjodjo and Maxwilili cultural groups enchanting prevention methods.
By Nuusita Ashipala