Three additional New Start Centres inaugurated
Three more New Start Centres in the Okavango and
Otjiwarongo were inaugurated last week.The centres are the Nyangana and Andara
hospitals in Okavango, and the New Start Centre Otjiwarongo.These centres are
part of the effort by government to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The centres
provide HIV/AIDS services including access to anti-retroviral treatment and the
prevention of mother-to-child transmission as well as confidential and
affordable voluntary counselling and testing.The New Start Centre of Otjiwarongo
will service the Otjiwarongo population and the surrounding communities, while
the two centres in Okavango are expected to help halt the spread of HIV in that
region and allow those infected to realize their status and take advantage of
available treatment and services. Okavango has a high HIV prevalence rate of
about 21.3% of the adult population.The Otjiwarongo centre was inaugurated by
the deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Services,
Simwanza Simenda, Bishop Dr. Zephania Kameeta of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
and Gary Newton, the mission director of the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID).In Otjiwarongo, the New Start Centre is
managed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church?s AIDS Programme (ELCAP), while in
Okavango the two centres are managed by the Roman Catholic Church and Catholic
Health Services.The Ministry of Health and Social Services provides technical
support to the New Start Centres countrywide.The establishment of the New Start
Centres in Namibia is made possible through funds provided by USA President
George Bush?s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.Namibia is one of 15 focus
countries under the Emergency Plan, which is providing US$15 billion over five
years to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic world-wide.
The funds are administered by USAID.