NAMIBIA: Top UN HIV/AIDS official in Namibia

UNAIDS on Tuesday said the UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, Stephen Lewis, had visited Namibia.

The UN resident communication officer, John Thynne, said Lewis' visit - his third to Africa within a period of a year and half - was at the invitation of the country's cabinet.

"His meeting with the country's leaders focused on how to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS, and also the expected Global AIDS Fund money," Thynne told the UN news service PlusNews.

Namibia is due to receive US $104 million from the Fund within the next six months, to cover a period of five years.

"Lewis lauded the existing drug programme for HIV-positive mothers and their children, and the planned introduction of an antiretroviral programme early next year," Thynne added.

The Namibian Minister of Health, Libertina Amathila, said the country's 22 percent of HIV-positive pregnant women was the lowest in Southern Africa.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews, Children,

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