By Surihe Gaomas
WINDHOEK
Forty new HIV/Aids infections occur every day in Namibia; the burden of Sexually Transmitted Infections has risen to 80 000 cases being reported every year; more young people engage in risky sexual behaviour; and men are more reluctant to go for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), as compared to women.
These are some of the findings contained in Namibia’s HIV/Aids Situation Analysis Survey presented during a ‘National Tripartite Consultation on HIV/Aids in the World of Work’ in Windhoek last week.
Delivering the survey to several labour inspectors at the event, Gebhard Timotheus of the National Aids Centre under the Ministry of Health and Social Services said the biggest obstacle in preventing the rapid spread of HIV infection in the country is the reluctance by Namibians to change their attitude and behaviour towards this pandemic.
“The problem is behaviour change. We are struggling to get people to change their behaviour (for safe sex). When it comes to knowledge about HIV/Aids, people know about it, but changing one’s (sexual) behaviour is a problem, especially among men,” explained Timotheus.
Statistics in the survey show that men tend to have more than two sexual partners, raising the risks for spreading HIV infection. This is further worsened by gender inequality factors where men are considered to be the decision-makers in sexual relationships.
“Few young people are using condoms especially among men,” said Timotheus, adding that the men folk are even scarcer when it comes to VCT.
Figures show that in the age group 15 to 19 years from a sample of women that were questioned, 18 percent of them said that they were tested at the New Start Centres, while 81 percent were never ever tested.
As for men the percentage stands at 8 percent of males who went for voluntary HIV testing, while 91 percent said no to ever being tested for HIV.
As for the age group 20 to 24 years, the percentages were 60 percent who tested for HIV amongst women, while 35 percent of the females never went for testing. As for the men the indicators are at a ratio of 28 percent to 70 percent.
Namibia’s HIV/Aids prevalence rate currently stands at 19,9 percent, and the pandemic still remains the leading cause of death in the country since 1997.
Factors that fuel the spread of HIV are reported to be widespread alcohol and drug abuse, which leads to unprotected sex; tradition and some cultural practices that allow men to have more than two sexual partners; poverty as well as stigma and discrimination.
The incentive was also given to distribute more condoms as protection against HIV/Aids. Over 22 million condoms were distributed during 2005 and 2006. However, this only amounts to four condoms per month per sexually active couple and this needs to be scaled up more.
HIV/Aids is still considered to be the so-called “slimming disease.” Health experts believe more multi-sectoral and concerted efforts are needed to fight this pandemic head on, more so with the men folk since the burden of the disease lies heavily on women.
In view of this, the Ministry of Health and Social Services is planning to hold a conference in March 2008 where male leaders, traditional leaders and councillors will gather in support of their womenfolk when it comes to HIV prevention.