Charles Tjatindi
21 August 2008
Walvis Bay — Plans to introduce a programme that provides sea-going employees with information on HIV/Aids, with emphasis on treatment are at an advance stage.
Vulnerability of this group of workers to the pandemic necessitated the programme as a strategy to halt further infection as a result of lack of information or ignorance. The Walvis Bay Multi-Purpose Centre Trust, in consultation with other stakeholders, will lead the programme.
Besides the lack of information, research has shown that sea-going HIV positive employees on treatment could miss out on some of their scheduled doses of anti-retrovirals (ARVs).
According to assessments, the extended period of absence at sea is said to disrupt the ARV schedule, as they are unable to take their doses when out at sea. Although the Ministry of Health and Social Services does make arrangements with individuals in such instances so as not to miss out on their ARV intake, such arrangements appear not to be well known among sea-going employees.
Representatives from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, fishing companies and other service providers within the HIV/Aids sector met here last week. The meeting culminated in the formation of a committee that will oversee the rollout of the programme, comprising all stakeholders present.
Immanuel Mwilima of the Walvis Bay Multi-Purpose Centre Trust, who heads the programme on behalf of his organisation, noted that such a programme could go a long way in addressing the vulnerability of sea-going employees to HIV/Aids. The Walvis Bay Multi-Purpose Centre opened for business in May 2001 and was inaugurated in July 2001.
"Such a programme will cater for the very basic needs in form of information and education for seafarers when it comes to HIV/Aids. These people are very vulnerable, as most information does not reach them due to their extended length of stay at sea," he said.
According to Mwilima, the programme will be piloted in Namibia, and could be rolled out to other countries if successful.
"We have very high expectations for this programme, and will do everything possible to make sure that it succeeds. If successful, Namibia could be used as a model for other countries facing the same scenario worldwide," said Mwilima.
The meeting saw the formation of an action team, consisting of health professionals, local authority, and HIV/Aids service providers' representatives.
The Erongo Region is home to 7,7 percent of Namibia's total population, of whom 80 percent live in urban settings and only 40 percent, were born in the region.
This shows migration that took place especially from northern Namibia, as a result of job search in the fishing industry. The main sources of income are farming, pensions, wages and salaries, which account for 66,6 percent, business, cash remittance and others.
Thirty-four percent of the region's inhabitants are unemployed, while HIV/Aids prevalence of pregnant women between the ages of 15 and 49 stands at 29 percent.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 New Era. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
