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Nawa 46 |
Nov 20 2006 |
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 Namibians take ownership of HIV/AIDS program
Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula,
officiated at the launch of NAWA Life
Trust, a new Namibian NGO, focused on HIV/AIDS and related social behaviors.
NAWA Life grew out of the Johns Hopkins
University Health Communication
Partnership which is funded by USAID
under the President’s Emergency Plan for
AIDS Relief.
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The Prime Minister praised the move, saying, "The actions taken by Nawa Life are vital for Namibia to become a more socially aware and proactive society in addressing the spread of HIV and other related social problems."Gary Newton, Mission Director USAID/NAMIBIA, stressed the importance of this transition from a donor-funded project to a local organization as a primary goal of the President’s Emergency Plan is to strengthen the managerial and technical capacity of Namibian counterparts to allow direct funding of programs. Director Newton also noted that NAWA Life Trust, with its local focus, expertise and capacity in HIV/AIDS communications and community mobilization will play an important role in the national HIV prevention program. He highlighted that prevention is key to creating a sustainable solution to Namibia’s HIV/AIDS epidemic. Namibia has already been recognized internationally for the success of its treatment programs.
With assistance from USAID and PEPFAR, Nawa Life will support the ’Take Control’ national HIV and AIDS media campaign under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, as well as the communication work of the Coalition for Responsible Drinking (CORD). At the local level, Nawa Life will help the 14 Community Action Forums (CAFs) — volunteer community groups at the grassroots level -- to conduct a variety of community outreach and referrals activities related to HIV/AIDS awareness and testing and behavioral change. Nawa Life Trust and the CAFs have also introduced Namibia’s first soccer-based life skills training program, Nawa Sport, which educates primarily young men on issues relating to HIV/AIDS and promotes soccer as a healthy leisure activity. |
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“New Start Radio” New Tool in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS
 New Start Radio is a new program on the national Namibian airwaves providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS information in
eight primary languages, English, Oshiwambo, Damara/Namara, Lozi, Rukavango, Afrikaans, Otjherero and Setswana. The
radio program is an outgrowth of the highly successful New Start voluntary counseling and testing centers supported by
USAID/NAMIBIA under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. In addition to providing relevant information, the
program serves to promote the 17 New Start Centers established by the Social Marketing Association (SMA), a Namibian
affiliate of Population Services International. It is estimated that approximately 30% of the clients who access the New Start
Centers do so because of the radio program..
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The hour-long, live, talk show airs once a week on the Namibian Broadcast Company’s (NBC) national radio. Generally,
New Start counselors with expertise in a particular area are
interviewed by NBC presenters on HIV/AIDS hot topics. Topics include myths and facts, prevention, positive living, HIV in
children, HIV and gender, ARVs, testing and counseling and HIVand TB. A recent program focused onpeople living with HIV/
AIDS and coping with stigma and discrimination. The show featured guests from the various Namibian cultures who told
their stories of struggle and hope.
Joyce Tjizu, an SMA Training Coordinator, and one of the founding counselors of the radio program,highlighted that, while
the shows focus on a uniform topic, they are not scripted and calls come in from people of all walks oflife during the show and
even after to follow up on the information provided.
SMA has initiated tools to monitor the impact of the radio on access to counseling and testing. SMA is continuing to train
staff in radio presentation skills and is planning to increase awareness of the program through weekly public service
announcements and live testimonials, in addition to billboards.. |
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Partner Featured in Namibian Video Series on Living with HIV/AIDS
A New Start voluntary counseling andtesting center (VCT) and the Walvis BayMultipurpose Center, both supported
byUSAID/NAMIBIA through the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, are featured in a new HIV/AIDS documentary
series showcasing new Namibian directors and producers telling the stories of women infected with HIV/AIDS. The segment,
Makiti Aftermath, is the story of sixteen-year-old Herlyn who contracted thedisease after being raped by an HIV positive
truck driver on a joyride to South Africa and her struggle to seek treatment and counseling. Herlyn’s story is, ultimately, one
of hope as she finds support, treatment and counseling through her local New Start VCT and the Walvis Bay Multipurpose
Center. Herlyn is currently working in support services at the Walvis Bay Center..
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| Called the “Acceptance” series, it waspremiered by The United States Embassy and the Polytechnic of Namibia. The videos
were created by Polytechnicstudents under the guidance of Cecil Moller, the series producer, and Paul vander Veur, an
American Fulbright professor. The U.S. government, as part of the President’s Emergency plan,provided the funding. Eric
Benjaminson, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy, pointed out that the videos have historic significance for Namibia’s
fight against HIV/AIDS. “These videos have a great importance for Namibia in its fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Theyshowcase new Namibian voices tellinguniquely Namibian stories. The women in the videos courageously speak out
about the experience living with HIV/AIDS in Namibia. They do so in their local languages. We applaud them for having the
courage to raise their voices and tell the nation what it is like to live with HIV/AIDS.” |
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NDSC Strengthens Outreach Skills of Members of the National Council
 A three-day Legislative Training workshop for the Members of the Third National Council (the upper chamber of Namibia’s
Parliament) was held inOtjiwarongo in August. This workshopwas facilitated by the USAID-funded Namibia Democracy
Support Centre (NDSC) and was attended by 23 of the 26 Members of the National Council.
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In opening the workshop, the Governor of the Otjozondjupa Region, Hon. Theofelus Eiseb, noted the importance of
continually educating elected leaders on the challenges facing them, therefore, training workshops aimed at increasing
knowledge about the legislative process for members of the National Council came at an opportune time.
In his opening address the Chairperson of the National Council, Hon. Asser Kapere cautioned lawmakers that they
shouldcompel themselves to carry out the difficult task of serving the varying interest of different constituencies with
attentiveness and dignity. “They shouldpersistently reinforce Parliament’s corevalues, which are impartiality,
legalsensitvity, transparency, integrity, fullaccountability and the provision of just, honest and efficient service to our
electorates and these ideals can be strengthened and sustained throughcontinuous training”.
The goal of the workshop was to strengthen legislative outreach skills and covered issues relating to the legislativefunction
of the National Council, principles of representation,accountability and constituency relations. |
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