Anna Ingwafa
17 July 2008
Oshakati — Yelula/U-Khâi has donated N$166 787 to seven different organisations to strengthen the fight against HIV/AIDS in the Oshana Region.
Yelula/U-Khâi Project Officer for Monitoring and Evaluation, Tauno Nakasole, said it is Yelula/U-Khâi's obligation to achieve its overall objectives as it endeavours to ensure Namibian households maintain capacity to generate livelihoods.
"Yelula/U-Khâi encourages strong networks between non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs) and civil society by coordinating activities, articulating critical issues relating to HIV/AIDS, promoting rights and evolving priorities from a community centred perspective and relating to regional government structures," said Nakasole.
She stressed that the project successfully supported a number of vulnerable groups and individuals affected by HIV/AIDS that now enjoy the rights and services provided for through Namibian policy, law and other programmes.
The above-mentioned success, according to Nakasole, was made possible by the project through various interventions such as skills training, mentoring, technical assistance and indeed resources support through small grants provided directly to the Regional Aids Co-Coordinator Committee (RACOC), Community AIDS Coordinator Committee (CACOC) and support groups, among others.
"Yelula/U-Khâi supports projects that aim to better the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and those who are affected by HIV through the small grant component.
"For the past 12 months, the project has been providing volunteer (CACOC) coordinators allowances but have also given the volunteers capacity training in their responsibility."
Nakasole noted that through the project, Urban Trust Namibia Girl Child in collaboration with Big Sister has reached 17 schools in three regions - Oshana, Ohangwena and Oshikoto to establish girls' clubs.
The trust aims at empowering young girls and equipping them with skills and knowledge on HIV/AIDS prevention and to expose them to a culture of pro-activism, and create an environment where life skills can be shared.
From the project, RACOC Oshana received N$36 000 for CACOC incentives, RACOC Oshikoto got N$39 600, Urban Trust N$55,835 for the programme of Namibia Girl Child, Tukwafela Support Group N$6 869, Omuwa Tu Sila Ohenda N$9 500 to do outreach activities on mainstreaming and capacity building, and Gwanakaka Support Group N$4 092 for outreach activities to sensitize community members on issues related to HIV/AIDS and break down the barriers of stigma and discrimination.
Tate Tuu kata Orphan and Vulnerable Children Uniform school project was given N$10 000.
Iikango fishing project in Ongwediva Constituency too received equipment for their projects as a small grant support for the project.
Receiving the donation, Oshana Acting Governor Lotto Kuushomwa applauded the project for the noble work it has done.
"The whole HIV/AIDS campaign should be holistic in nature. Remember that HIV/AIDS is not only a medical disease but it is also a social disease.
"It is therefore incumbent upon all of us to teach our African culture and Christian values to our children. As for those who are already infected, let us embrace them as brothers, sisters, sons, fathers and mothers," said Kuushomwa.
He called on people to resist the temptation to create institutions or islands for those suffering from HIV/AIDS and foster home based care facilities that are in tune with the African culture of caring and togetherness.
Yelula/U-Khâi project has worked with communities, individuals and marginalized groups in rural northern Namibia to strengthen their resources and support their vision in responding to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Through networking, training, grants, mentoring and outreach, the project enhances grassroots organizational and leadership capacity and promotes new and effective methods of HIV prevention.
The project also supports the exercise of basic human rights related to HIV/AIDS and helps secure access to care and treatment.
The project started in 2004 and for the first three years was done in collaboration with Hivos and IBIS as part of Alliance 2015 - a coalition of six European NGOs working to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals for 2015.
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