John Ekongo
12 May 2008
Windhoek — Hundreds of Namibians, both young and old, on Friday swamped the Zoo Park in the city centre to undergo voluntary HIV/Aids testing during the first-ever National HIV Testing Day.
Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Kamwi, who could hardly contain his excitement, was all smiles and laughter throughout the event. Members of Parliament, opposition leaders and prominent members of society all added value to the event with their presence.
Among the first to receive counselling before testing was Prime Minister Nahas Angula, in a jovial mood as usual, who quipped that "the counselling went well" before making his way into the small private tent for the test.
The crowd applauded the Premier's gesture in appreciation as it was in line with public calls for MPs to lead by example and get tested in order to raise awareness about the disease.
Despite the day being a massive public campaign, the HIV/Aids testing and counselling services provided were strictly voluntary and confidential. Kamwi further highlighted the significance of the day with the announcement that the campaign was also going on in the Erongo, Karas, Khomas and Oshana regions.
The national testing day aimed to provide at least 12000 people countrywide with the opportunity to get tested and know their status. It further aimed to monitor the uptake of voluntary counselling services before, during and after the national testing day. But most of all it hoped to refer those who test positive to health facilities in order for them to receive care, treatment and support.
"We have overwhelming evidence that the anti-retroviral therapy has dramatically improved the quality of life for many infected people and has lessened the burden of care for the affected family members," said Kamwi.
Kamwi continued, "I am grateful to announce that there are now fewer HIV/Aids-related patients in the wards than was the case five years ago. We see those who come on stretcher beds, fighting for their lives get back to work and join their families in good health."
HIV/Aids-related deaths in the country were 7100 for last year alone, while it is estimated that the country has 188000 adults living with HIV/Aids. The 15-49 years age group is classified in the risk category, which according to the Directorate of Special Programmes in the Ministry of Health and Social Services is the most sexually active group in the country.
For this reason, Kamwi pointed out, the benefits of knowing one's status are huge. Not only is it criterion for someone to access ARV treatment, but treatment also dramatically reduces the risk of transmission by decreasing the viral load in one's body. The directorate also stressed that the ministry is using the national testing day strategy as a means to provide increased access to counselling and testing services as outlined in the Ministry of Health and Social Services national scale up plan for counselling and testing in Namibia.
The plan aims to have at least tested 203000 people in all 13 regions of the country by the end of this year, in an effort to encourage people to know their status.
Currently out of 1033000 people, 47 percent know their status. Among this group women are in the majority with 29 percent percent, while men make up 18 percent. According to the Director of Special Programmes at the Ministry of Health and Social Services, "It is saddening that the uptake of testing services in males is significantly less than that of our female counterparts". He called upon the male population to get tested. The national testing day also aimed to demystify the connotation that HIV/Aids is a "death sentence". South African HIV/Aids activist Musa Njoko captivated the audience with a personal testimony on how anyone living with HIV can go on to have a productive life.
Njoko has been living with HIV for the last 14 years and urged people not to discriminate against people living with HIV.
"I am just as beautiful as you are, I am just as proud an African as you are and I am me and not the virus. I did not choose the virus to be in me, but so be it. It will only be that, a virus, but never a person like me and you," said Njoko.
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