Because of you, People in Need is helping in Namibia
Published: 16:24 | 27.10.
In Namibia, one out of every five people has HIV. On top of that statistic is the fact that there is only 1 doctor for every 9000 inhabitants of Namibia. People in Need has been here for five years and has been working in the poorest districts.
We have been there primarily to help with AIDS prevention and to help people who have been affected by HIV. Thanks to this assistance, we have started to help pregnant women who are HIV positive and their unborn children. This has helped sick mothers give birth to healthy children. If a woman has antiretroviral treatment, there is a higher than 50% chance that the child will be born healthy. In order to prevent the transmission of the HIV virus to a child during breastfeeding, we have distributed Sunar, a milk formula for children, to the mothers.
Since the second half of 2008, we have been focused on training healthcare personnel in three clinics which we support and which sick mothers are sent to. Our staff is starting to work with women during their pregnancies. At the clinic, there are classes on preventing the transmission of HIV to the child and how to care for them properly. For the mothers, we offer psychological and social support. For women it is extremely difficult to learn that they are HIV positive because this means that it is likely that their husbands are infected as well and that the disease is a threat to their unborn child.
Of course, we know that the most important thing is the prevention of HIV/AIDS and we are working to stop its spread through activities which help raise awareness, such as handing out informational leaflets and condoms. Detailed information can be found here..
