NAMIBIA: Snail's pace for HIV/AIDS plan

Namibia's government has come under fire by AIDS activists for its slow provision of an HIV/AIDS treatment plan, local newspaper The Namibian reported on Thursday.

Earlier this week, the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) charged that the failure to provide treatment to all people living with HIV/AIDS was a gross human rights violation.

The head of LAC's AIDS Law Unit, Michaela Clayton, said: "Access to affordable antiretrovirals is part of the right to the highest attainable standard of health."

With an estimated 260,000 Namibians living with HIV/AIDS, treatment has only been made available to the country's HIV-positive pregnant women.

Clayton said it would be unfortunate if litigation became the means of fighting for the right to antiretrovirals, as this would further delay the process.

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

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