Although Namibia was one of the first countries to develop and implement national policies and plans to take care of children orphaned by HIV and AIDS, much still remains to be done.

This was stated by the Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Marlene Mungunda, in a speech read on her behalf during a support conference held at Oshakati on Tuesday this week. The speech was read by MP Chief Ankama during a "Yelula/UKhai Children Count" gathering, focused on children's access to services and treatment, particularly those orphaned by HIV and AIDS, as set out in the Lusaka Guiding Principles and the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the epidemic.

According to Namibia's latest Demographic and Health Survey in 2006, Minister Mungunda said about 40 per cent of Namibian children do not possess birth certificates - a prerequisite for applying for social grants.

The Minister added that in the past four years, her Ministry had almost tripled the number of grants available to orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC), but these social safety nets only reached about 30 per cent of those in need.

It was estimated that some 14 000 children up to the age of 15, were living with HIV-AIDS in Namibia by the end of 2007.

"These children need special support and care, and secure access to treatment and medical facilities," Minister Mungunda said.

She noted that sub-Saharan Africa is the region where AIDS has taken its greatest toll.

According to Minister Mungunda around 90% of all children living with HIV acquired the infection from their mothers during pregnancy, birth or breast-feeding.

However, she said, it could be argued that many children growing up in an area where HIV is prevalent could be affected by the epidemic.

Minister Mungunda said children living with HIV-AIDS have many practical, material, social, psychological and emotional needs, especially those who had lost their parents or relatives to AIDS.

It was particularly traumatic at times when they were diagnosed, started to receive treatment, had to deal with discrimination, experienced problems adhering to drugs or have to deal with end-of-life issues.

"Helping communities to overcome HIV and AIDS is essentially a two-fold process - HIV prevention needs to be carried out to stop new infections, and anti-retroviral treatment needs to be provided to those in need,"she said.

Minister Mungunda commended groups and organisations carrying out HIV prevention programmes on a community level, educating people about how to avoid infection and supplying condoms, for jobs well done.

She said, usually, these campaigns also attempted to address the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV, which could stop communities discussing AIDS openly and frankly.

According to her, a recent Unesco study cites stigma and discrimination against children living with HIV in Namibia as the most important factor blocking these children's route to healthier and longer lives.

She called upon all to fight this stigma and discrimination at all costs and to work together to build stronger, healthier, more open and more sustainable communities.

Minister Mungunda added that the Namibian Government recognised the contribution many dedicated individuals and groups were making, and that she was pleased that some had been nominated for recognition of their efforts and achievements to receive Positive Impact awards during the conference.

She called on the conference to fight the stigma faced by many brave Namibians who were currently living with HIV infection.