Annual Report - University of Namibia

was reviewed by the Steering Committeeand some further changes were done.Male condoms, Femidoms and HIV/AIDSinformation materials were offered to bothstaff and students at the entrance to HIV/AIDS Unit.The Unit participated in the registrationof all fi rst year students by presentingvideo and answering questions. The peereducators’ volunteers as a componentof the Unit organised activities related tohealth and HIV/AIDS with Drama and Quizfor the orientation of all fi rst year studentsand at the same time giving them life skillsto survive on campus during their fi rst yearat the University.As part of orientation for the 2009 fi rstyear students, the peer educators visitedContemporary Issue lectures. This was wellreceived by the students and lecturerspresent during such occasions. The peereducators found that this strategy workedwell and plan to do the same in 2010.Staff TrainingThe HIV Unit held two training sessions forUNAM staff on AIDS AND ME conducted byPositive Vibes. A total of 22 Administrativestaff (four males and 18 Females) and 11academic staff (four males and sevenfemales) went through the training overtwo and half days respectively. Thefeedback was positive from the trainees.An awareness HIV/AIDS Club was formedamong the administrative staff to take thelead in the fi ght against HIV/AIDS amongthe staff on campus.Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT)at the UNAM ClinicCounselling services at UNAM by the Unitstaff and the peer educator volunteerscontinued. Issues covered ranged fromHIV/AIDS, fi nancial and psychologicalrelated matters.The Unit participated in the arrangementof the National HIV Testing Day whichwas held in May 2009 by the Ministry ofHealth and Social Services. During thepreparation phase of this day, UNAMwas fully represented on the organisingcommittee by the UNAM HIV/AIDSCoordinator. During this exercise, UNAMserved as one of the outreach points forVCT. The clinic staff were supported bythe community counsellors as assignedby the Khomas Health Directorate andsupervised by the Principal Medical Offi cerof Khomas District. The Namibia Institute ofPathology (NIP) conducted the VCT.A total of 350 people were tested andthree tested positive, representing 0.9%.It should be noted that the VCT was alsoopen to the general public at the UNAMmain campus. However, the HIV testresults do not differ much with the HIVprevalence rate which was reported in2007 after the HIV prevalence testing oncampus.The HIV/AIDS Coordinator had threeRadio interviews on UNAM radio coveringvoluntary counselling and testing;Antiretroviral Therapy and treatmentof Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).Each interview lasted 30 minutes andAnnual Report 2009 -65-