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IRIN PlusNews HIV/AIDS News and information service | Southern Africa | NAMIBIA: Govt reacts on AIDS disability grant reports | Care Treatment, Prevention Research, Other | Daily


	Sunday 25 December 2005

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NAMIBIA: Govt reacts on AIDS disability grant reports

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

JOHANNESBURG, 27 July (PLUSNEWS) - Namibia has denied allegations that it had scrapped disability grants to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Earlier this week a local newspaper, The Namibian, reported that Dr Columbia Shingle, permanent secretary of the health ministry, had sent a circular to all senior medical officials informing them that any payment of such grants to HIV-positive people was illegal.

But on Wednesday Shingle responded by saying that the government had decided to disallow grants to able-bodied HIV-positive people who could still hold down employment.

The Namibian quoted Shangula as saying, "If an individual develops full-blown AIDS and is incapable of working, such a person would qualify for a disability grant by virtue of being incapable of adequately providing for their own maintenance, and not by virtue of being HIV-positive."

According to the Ministry of Health, a 50 percent level of disability, determined by a medical doctor, would qualify the recipient for a grant.

[ENDS]

MORE NEWS BRIEFS

Recent NAMIBIA Reports

Underage sex-workers have few other options to survive, ?24/Oct/05

Growing controversy over teen pregnancy, ?20/Oct/05

HIV/AIDS takes sustenance as well as lives, ?7/Oct/05

Action plan for local authorities , ?4/Oct/05

Hope for AIDS orphans, ?28/Sep/05

Links

Le portail d'informations générales de la Côte d’Ivoire

Sida Info Services

Le Fonds mondial de lutte contre le SIDA, la tuberculose et le paludisme

Le Réseau Afrique 2000

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria

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