Project description

Title: Multisectoral HIV control
Commissioned by: Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Country: Namibia
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Health and Social Services
Overall term: January 2006 to March 2011

Context

Namibia suffers from one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in sub-Saharan Africa. The consequences of the epidemic can be felt in all segments of society. Due to increased absenteeism from the workplace and fatalities, but also due to a worsening work climate in view of the threat of disease, the public service and other organisations are losing valuable qualified labour capacity. The fulfilment of state tasks, including the implementation of AIDS prevention measures, is thus increasingly endangered.

Objective

Ministries and their parastatal and private partners in Namibia make HIV/AIDS control an integral component of their work. They respond competently, systematically and effectively to the causes and effects of HIV/AIDS, providing the necessary personnel and financial support.

Setting up HIV/AIDS workplace programmes leads to a reduction in stigmatisation and discrimination; employees can effectively protect themselves against HIV.

Approach

The Namibian Government committed itself to a multisectoral approach with the adoption of the third “Medium Term Plan 2004 – 2009” to combat HIV/AIDS. All ministries and their parastatal and private partners are to set up HIV/AIDS workplace programmes for their employees that ensure access to information, prevention, advice and treatment. Furthermore, all ministries are required to examine their core tasks and services for the effects they may have on the development of the epidemic. They are to identify task areas and work processes where existing activities can be complemented by HIV/AIDS measures, or that possibly contribute to the spread of the epidemic. If the latter applies, appropriate action is to be taken.

The project advises and supports the partner organisations in this analysis and in the planning and implementation of the measures developed on this basis.

Results achieved so far

Partner organisations are requesting the advisory services of the programme already at an early stage of implementation.