Namibian teachers meet to discuss HIV/Aids
09/07/2008
Representatives from Namibia's teaching community have met with each other to discuss the best ways of tackling the country's HIV/Aids, New Era reports.
Meeting under the auspices of the Ministry of Education's HIV/Aids Management Unit, schoolteachers and directors within the education sector held a workshop on the matter last week.
Attendees tackled controversial issues such as how to approach the delicate subject of sexual education for youngsters, as well as exploring the various ways in which to appeal to under-18s.
They also explored possible parallels between HIV infection patterns among Namibiai's adolescent children and those in adult workplaces.
Last year, a plan was drawn up for the Workplace HIV and Aids Policy for the Education Sector, which is intended to coordinate efforts by Namibia's educational and occupational authorities.
"It is clear that if we want to slow down and ultimately stop the epidemic we have to focus on keeping people from getting infected in the first place," commented Dalene van der Westhuizen, programme development specialist from USA id.
"Worldwide, for every person on treatment in 2006, six others were newly infected. It is unlikely that governments around the world will be able to sustain the escalating treatment costs indefinitely."
She noted that absenteeism caused by Aids-related illnesses among teachers was also having a negative impact in schools and colleges - mirroring the economic cost of the scourge.
A recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers warned that a large number of Namibian businesses are failing in their duty to face up to the challenges posed by HIV/Aids.
©