Teachers in
Caprivi celebrate Edu-Sector Health day
In
the Picture: the
Minister of Health and Social Services, Richard Nchabi Kamwi
Educators in the Caprivi
Region turned up in numbers to commemorate the Edu-Sector Health day
held at the Caprivi college of Education on Friday 20th
February 2009 under the theme ‘Healthy Workforce for better Service
Delivery, Healthy Teachers For Quality Education’.
The day, which is aimed at exposing and providing
education sector’ employees and their families with HIV/AIDS prevention,
voluntary testing and counseling communication saw countless employees
turn up for HIV/AIDS testing.
Officiating at the event, the Minister of Health and
Social Services, Richard Nchabi Kamwi said, since the education sector
is the single largest employer with over 40 000 people it has an immense
responsibility to ensure the preservation of its human capital.
He further noted that the current national prevalence
rate 17.8 percent and Caprivi Region with 31.7 percent requires more
concentrated efforts in addressing HIV/AIDS.
“There is a need to put measures in place that
specifically addresses HIV prevention, care and support and impact
currently mitigation programmes within the workplace to address
socio-economic impacts currently being felt through reduces service
delivery escalated by absenteeism and funeral attendance” he said.
Meanwhile, the Namibia National Teachers Union
(NANTU)’s Secretary General who was also part of the event alleged a
study conducted by the Ministry of Education in September 2007 revealed
that sick leave is the commonly taken leave amongst employees in the
education sector.
Haingura articulated that the absence of one teacher
from his / her class has an effect on learners’ daily programmes as they
remain unattended to and fail to acquire the necessary skills and
knowledge due to teachers absenteeism.
Services provided to hundreds
of teachers and their families at the event were HIV/AIDS Voluntary
Counseling and testing; testing for blood sugar levels; testing blood
pressure and Health education and promotion on Malaria; and TB and
Cholera. Meanwhile those that
tested HIV positive were encouraged to do
the CD4s tests with the aim of enrolling them in the HAART programme at
a later stage.
 In
the picture: Teachers, learners and members of the community undergoing
testing
The Chief of Party of the USAID funded NEPP project,
Muhammed Liman said, the surest way to de-mystify the fear and stigma
associated with HIV and AIDS pandemic is through going for testing.
“Once each one of us knows his or her status, the solution to the
problem is around the corner”.
Liman further states those that test
positive can receive treatment and live healthy lives as well as
practice safer sex to continue being productive members of society.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Education
through its HIV and AIDS Management Unit (HAMU), collectively with its
partners the Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) and the Academy for
Educational Development, (AED). Last year, Edu-Sector health day was
held for Erongo, Khomas, Oshana, Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Omusati. The
remaining regions are expected to hold similar events this year.
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