Oshakati
Oshana Regional Governor Clemens Kashuupulwa has urged that regional and local authority election campaigns be used to educate the public on zero new HIV infections.
He also suggested that the campaigns be used to sensitise the public on gender-based violence (GBV) as well as on inequality, and discrimination against women.
“As we are campaigning to democratically elect local and regional leadership in our various towns and constituencies, but let us also use this opportunity to educate the public,” said Kashuupulwa.
Kashuupulwa said the campaigns should be used as a tool to unlock the mindset of individuals on gender issues.
Kashuupulwa made the remarks at the Alliance of Mayors Municipal Leaders (AMICAALL) annual partnership conference underway at a lodge in Oshakati.
The conference, being held under the theme, ‘Local government setting the pace to zero,’ is scheduled to end on October 02.
The conference discussions are centred on zero new infections of HIV/AIDS, discrimination and HIV/AIDS-related deaths.
The conference also intends to draw up amicable solutions on zero gender insensitivity, women inequality and gender-based violence (GBV), which are currently rife in the country.
The governor appealed to participants to find measurable, applicable and timely solutions to reduce new infections.
He also implored both men and women to be involved in the war against GBV instead of continuously shifting the blame on men.
He said the majority of men are against women discrimination in leadership, women inequality, GBV and child abuse.
Also speaking at the event, the Acting President of the Association of Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN), Leonard Jona, urged local authority leaders to support and assist AMICAALL activities to realise the dream of HIV/AIDS-free communities.
ALAN spearheads the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS Namibia.
The Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS was formed in Africa in 1998 to try to limit the spread of HIV/AIDS and reduce the social and economic impact of the epidemic on communities.
Jona said that although Namibia has made significant progress, the number of people in need of treatment, as well as the number of orphans registered with the Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare continue to increase.
In addition, Jona said that HIV/AIDS-related illnesses remain the number one cause of death in Namibia affecting the health, livelihoods and economic perspectives of many poor Namibians.
Mayors and local authority leaders from various towns countrywide are attending the conference.