WINDHOEK – The Ministry of Lands and Resettlement on Monday commemorated World Aids Day in its auditorium under the theme – ‘Getting to Zero on New Infections, Discrimination, AIDS-Related Deaths and Gender Violence.”
“It is a day when we remember our relatives, neighbours, work mates and country men and women who passed away because of HIV and AIDS related illness. We also think of those who have survived and continue to live with the virus and are around us,” said the deputy minister of lands, Theo Diergaardt. “In today’s world, HIV and AIDS is not only a health problem, the world has come to realise that it is also a developmental issue that threatens… human welfare, socio-economic advances, productivity, as well as social cohesion and even national security,” Diergaardt said.
According to UNAIDS (2007) estimates, there are 32.2 million people worldwide living with HIV and AIDS, of which 2.5 million are children. A vast majority of people with HIV and AIDS live in lower- and middle-income countries. “This means that HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world,” observed Diergaardt. Moreover, reports indicate new infection rates are estimated at 2.5 million per year, while AIDS-related deaths are reported every day. “As for us, HIV and AIDS remains the gravest development challenge for Namibia,” Diergaardt stressed. He further said the impact of the epidemic is deep, multi-sectoral, and international, and that is why the day is not just about increasing awareness, it is also about providing an opportunity for all individuals, communities, politicians, churches and other leaders in society, to take action and ensure that human rights are protected and global targets for HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care are met. “Global leaders have pledged to work towards universal access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care, recognizing these as fundamental human rights,” he said. According to Diergaardt valuable progress has been made in increasing access to HIV and AIDS services, so greater commitment is needed around the world if the goal of universal access is to be achieved. “Millions of people continue to be infected with HIV every year. In low- and middle-income countries, less than half of those in need of antiretroviral therapy are receiving it, and too many do not have access to adequate care services,” he said. HIV/AIDS has affected the social and economic fabric of our society and this has resulted in children dropping out of school, becoming victims of commercial love (sex) at the tender age of 12, while the number of orphans is increasing daily, Diergaardt said.
“Young people are the leaders of tomorrow. How can they be productive leaders if the youth is found on the streets and not in schools to gain skills needed for them to make a meaningful contribution to the goals of vision 2030,” he asked. “We are gathered here today to give support to one another. We fully understand the psychological trauma which those who live with HIV and AIDS are going through,” the deputy minister said.
By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa