Champions of an HIV free generation
The Champions for an
HIV-Free Generation visited Namibia this week to meet with the country?s top
leaders and encourage an accelerated response to the epidemic.Led by former
president of Botswana, Festus Mogae, the champions? three-day visit included
meetings with Namibia?s President Hifikepunye Pohamba, government ministers,
leaders of civil society organizations and the media, as well as a field trip to
a community development project in Windhoek.The champions hoped to share
regional experiences in the response to HIV and discuss the scale-up of
effective HIV prevention strategies against the main drivers of the epidemic.In
addition to Mogae, Joaquim Chissano, former president of the Republic of
Mozambique; Dr. Speciosa Wandira, former vice president of Uganda; and Joyce
Mhaville, chairperson of the Steering Committee of the African Broadcast Media
Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (ABMP) also visited Namibia.More than 200,000
people are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in Namibia and the estimated HIV
prevalence is 15.3% among adults ages 15-49. The disease, which
disproportionately affects women and children, is estimated to claim more than
5,000 lives each year. Among the main drivers of the epidemic in Namibia are
multiple concurrent partnerships, low levels of male circumcision, alcohol abuse
and low and inconsistent condom use. The Champions for an HIV-Free Generation
project was launched during the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico
City. Led by Mogae as chairperson, the founding members include four former
African presidents, a Nobel Laureate, and other high-level African leaders from
different walks of life. The champions focus their efforts in Sub Sarah Africa,
home to more than two-thirds of all people living with HIV. With an emphasis on
proven prevention practices, the champions embrace and promote key policy,
legal, cultural and behavioral practices and messages that help accelerate the
social outcomes needed to achieve an HIV-free generation.