By William J. Mbangula OSHAKATI HIVAIDS workers in the Ongwediva Constituency received a moral boost last Thursday when twelve bicycles were donated to them by DAPP Namibia. The bicycles worth more than N$12 000, donated by the Development Aid from People to People (DAPP), would be used by a dozen youths who were trained and equipped through the Total Control of Epidemic (TCE) project run by DAPP. Most of these workers used to walk on foot in their awareness campaigning within the constituency. Handing over the bicycles, the Councillor for Ongwediva Constituency Thikameni Ekandjo hailed the humanitarian assistance received from DAPP which he said would go a long way to “soften the transport burden” in his area of jurisdiction. “The Government alone cannot succeed in the fight against the deadly HIVAIDS pandemic. It is therefore the responsibility of each and every Namibian, the private sector and the international community to form partnerships with the Government and assist in any way possible,” he stated. Ekandjo cautioned the workers who are full-time employees of TCE for the next three years to “respect and take care of the bicycles just like other government properties. Never misuse them for private business. It is for the people to enable them to obtain information and education on HIVAIDS from you on time no matter how long the distance,” he told the beneficiaries. TCE project’s main objective is to reach each and every person over a three-year period in order to pass on information related to the pandemic. About 12 youths were trained as field workers and tasked to reach about 2 000 people or approximately 350 households over the next three years. TCE Assistant Coordinator Oscar Shiweva, who noted that so far about 260 bicycles have been purchased for the HIVAIDS campaign in the northern regions, delivered the bicycles.