HIV/Aids Africa

The government says the country has made noticeable progress in the provision
of social protection. In spite of these achievements, it says a lot still needs
to be done.?Namibia has made great achievements pertaining to the provision of
social protection, but the country is also faced with many challenges as far as
social security is concerned,? said Minister of Labour and Social Welfare
Immanuel Ngatjizeko, when opening a three-day International Social Security
Association (ISSA) technical seminar on social security reform in Windhoek,
early this week.Ngatjizeko said these challenges include the lack of adequate
resources to fund these schemes. Other challenges include the lack of adequate
resources to cater for social demands imposed by the scourge of HIV/AIDS,
unemployment as well as labour market dynamics like the participation of the
small and informal market in social protection schemes.Another challenge is the
delay in the implementation of comprehensive social safety schemes, particularly
those under the mandate of the Social Security Commission (SSC).?Here I am
particularly referring to the National Pension Fund, National Medical Benefit
Fund and the Development Fund. I am informed that the delay in implementing
these schemes is mainly attributed to the lack of consensus amongst the social
partners on the modalities for implementation,? Ngatjizeko said.He said some of
the achievements as far as the provision of social protection is concerned,
include the government?s universal social assistance programmes that provide for
universal welfare grants that were inherited from the colonial administration.
These programmes still continue, although they underwent major reforms and
periodical improvements. Ngatjizeko said new ministries were also created, while
others were re-organized to execute the mandate of the government, and a
dedicated Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare is a notable example of
this commitment.The seminar was held under the theme ?Social Security Reforms in
Southern Africa?, and is aimed at looking at recent developments within the
Southern African Development Community (SADC) region with a view to share
experiences and best practices.