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Nawa 18 |
Jul 11 2003 |
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MEDIA TAKES A SEAT IN THE NAMIBIAN PARLIAMENT
 Recently, the Namibian Parliament made a giant leap toward embracing media freedom in Namibia, when it allocated recording facilities and office space within the heart of its buildings to a collaborative project led by the Namibia Community Radio Network and the Namibia Media Women Association. Under this NDI-supported effort, the first Parliament-based radio and TV production studio has been established, known as the Constituency Channel (CC). Through radio and television programs, the CC aims to reinforce and expand existing linkages between the Parliament and the Namibian citizenry, including the Parliamentary interactive website.
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Commenting on the initiative, Hon. Nico Kaiyamo, Member of Parliament and Councillor for the Tsumeb constituency said, "The Constituency Channel is a good initiative. Increased efforts to provide access and enhance public participation will stimulate increased demand and expectations. While all the demands may never be satisfied, elected leaders have the obligation and should be kept on their toes to respond and account to the electorate."
The CC will build on the communication foundations laid by the Parliament Constituency Outreach Program. It will provide media coverage on legislative issues, but more importantly, facilitate discussion and interaction between the legislature and communities through a network of media institutions located across the country. Using both print and electronic media, the CC will solicit views and input from the public and will seek to ensure appropriate responses from elected leaders.
Already, the CC has successfully developed 6 radio and 2 television programs and facilitated 8 public discussion forums, using video conferencing facilities located in Parliament and Regional Offices throughout the country. To date, the Prime Minister of Namibia, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Members of Parliament, Governors, Councillors, students and civil society groups have participated in the public forums, focusing on various legislative and policy issues.
"There is no doubt about it. As regards participation, Namibia is out in front. The Parliament... is making efforts to achieve increased openness, transparency and accountability,"said the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Mosé Tjitendero. |
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U.S. NAMIBIA MISSION CONFERENCE ON HIV/AIDS IN THE WORKPLACE
 The United States Mission to Namibia hosted the first Regional Conference on HIV/AIDS in the workplace at Midgard lodge, just outside Windhoek, on June 18, 2003. Participants included delegates from other U.S. Mission posts in Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, South Africa, Mozambique and Ethiopia. U.S. Ambassador Kevin McGuire set the tone for the event with a focus on making Missions model employers in addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS in the workplace and acknowledged the contribution of peer educators in educating and sharing information with colleagues.
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 A candle lighting ceremony symbolized the power of "hope"in keeping alive the flames of "faith", "love"and "acceptance,"which are all key aspects necessary to persevere in the struggle against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Among the issues addressed at the conference were cultural myths and beliefs that impede the efforts against the spread of HIV. Thought-provoking breakout groups which focused on HIV/AIDS treatment, legal and human rights aspects, positive living, and de-stigmatization of HIV/AIDS stimulated discussion among participants. The session on living positively with the challenge of stigma and discrimination evoked tears as participants listened to a testimony by Emma Tuahepa, the first Namibian to publicly disclose her HIV positive status. The conference, which served as an eye opener to the more than 150 delegates who actively participated, surpassed its goal to shed light on vital aspects of dealing with HIV/AIDS in the workplace.
The day was further highlighted with a competition involving presentations by Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia on strategies for addressing HIV/AIDS in the workplace, as well as a regional quiz on knowledge of HIV/AIDS related issues. The overall winner of the competition, Lesotho, received the regional trophy and made a commitment to host the 2004 U.S. Mission Regional HIV/AIDS Event.
The event has certainly helped to heighten awareness of the importance of communication and the acknowledgment of interdependence among peers. |
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YOUTH-LED PARTICIPATORY APPRAISALS ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
 On June 20, 2003, YouthNet/Namibia presented preliminary findings on the participatory assessment of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention needs for younger youth (8-16 years) at NamPower Convention Centre, Windhoek.
The participatory process involved in-depth training for 59 youth selected from churches, faith-based organizations, youth councils and youth centers from Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. During group work, young people learned to trust each other and speak openly about issues related to sexual health and HIV infection. The youth analyzed the information collected, led workshops, validated findings from the assessments, and suggested recommendations for the proposed project.
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The tools youth used included, among others, "body mapping", "problem ranking", and "my universe."During the "body mapping"exercise, participating youth drew representations of the human body. The drawing of "my universe"included their families, friends, communities, etc., which helped them view sexual and reproductive health issues on multiple levels from individual to a broader context. When asked to identify the individuals in their universe they could talk to about sex, many couldn`t identify a reliable person. Some boys and girls expressed that they were scared to bring up sex as a topic for discussion with their parents for fear of being punished.
YouthNet, a global USAID funded program awarded to FHI and partners - CARE USA, MSCI, RTI and Deloitte Touché Tohmatsu, is now being implemented in Namibia under the auspices of Change of Life Style (COLS). The overall goal of the project is to strengthen the capacity of faith-based organizations and churches to improve younger youth reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention behaviors with the purpose of delaying the onset of sexual activity. This program has recently commenced with 20 pilot churches and faith-based organizations in Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund communities. |
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