Govt responds to increasing AIDS rate in Caprivi
Thursday 19 August 2004
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NAMIBIA: Govt responds to increasing AIDS rate in Caprivi


[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]


JOHANNESBURG, 3 August (PLUSNEWS) - The escalating HIV/AIDS rate in Namibia's northeastern Caprivi region has forced the government to step up its antiretroviral drug programme in the region.

A 2002 Ministry of Health and Social Services report revealed that prevalence rates among pregnant women stood at 43 percent, much higher than the national rate of 22.5 percent.

"Clearly, we have a very serious situation in the Caprivi region. There is still considerable denial of the presence of HIV/AIDS ... many people in that area believe that the large numbers of deaths are occurring due to witchcraft, and that is a very big problem for us," a local newspaper, The Namibian, quoted Health and Social Services undersecretary Norbert Forster as saying.

Although no single cause for the rise in prevalence rates has been identified, the government believes the Trans-Caprivi highway linking Namibia with its landlocked Southern African neighbours is a contributing factor.

[ENDS]

MORE NEWS BRIEFS


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Recent NAMIBIA Reports
Orphan crisis a disaster greater than floods/drought, ?4/May/04
Lack of funds deepens the plight of orphans, ?29/Apr/04
Namibia rolls out third National AIDS plan, ?19/Apr/04
UN agencies launch emergency appeal, ?10/Mar/04
PWAs hopeful about treatment programme, ?10/Dec/03
Links
The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria
AEGIS
The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria
Mothers and HIV/AIDS

PlusNews does not take responsibility for info in links supplied.
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PlusNews is produced under the banner of RHAIN, the Southern African Regional HIV/AIDS Information Network. RHAIN's members currently include:

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