2016-12-12Staff Report 2 Oshakati Minister of Health and Social Services Dr Bernhard Haufiku has applauded non-governmental organisations (NGOs), development partners and HIV/Aids champions for working tirelessly in the fight against HIV/Aids. In a keynote speech read on his behalf by Oshana health director Johanna Imene, Dr Haufiku said with the support of NGOs, government has rolled out an aggressive campaign against the spread of HIV/Aids that comprises of surveillance, prevention, treatment, care and support and impact mitigation. “Let me express my deepest appreciation to our development partners, the UN family of institutions and other local and international stakeholders for the considerable financial, intellectual and material contribution towards our fight against the HIV epidemic in Namibia,” Haufiku said. Namibia has managed to reduce HIV prevalence ratio among pregnant women to 17.2 percent from 22 percent, with a more encouraging downward trend in the reduced number of new HIV infections, which dropped to 7 330 in 2016 from 9 238 in 2012. In light of the fact that World Aids Day was this year commemorated under the theme ‘Hands up for HIV Prevention’ Namibians are widely encouraged to take responsibility for their own health and that of those they love. * Aina Simon is an information officer at the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology in Oshana Region. 2016-12-12Staff Report 2
