NAMIBIA: HIV-positive public servants costly - government

Namibia says it is feeling the pinch of providing treatment to civil servants living with HIV and AIDS.

Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the annual cost of the Public Service Employees' Medical Aid Scheme had risen by more than US $21 million over the past year, due to the high number of members needing anti-AIDS drugs.

In a recent speech to the National Assembly, the minister called for an urgent approval of just over $11 million to help keep state medical scheme afloat.

A local newspaper, The Namibian, quoted Kuugongelwa-Amadhila as saying: "We are currently experiencing a situation where the appropriated funds for the government medical scheme are already depleted."

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews,

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