Annual Report 2007 - University of Namibia

6. Activities of Other Units6.1 HIV/AIDS UNIT6.1.1 IntroductionThe mission of the UNAM HIV/AIDS Unit is to create a University that is free of new HIV infectionsby 2010. To attain this, more human and financial resources are needed. All activities related toHIV and AIDS should be closely coordinated with all parties concerned at our university within theframework of respect and confidentiality. The vision of the Unit is for UNAM to have a WellnessCentre that will cater for the UNAM community’s health as a whole, where one can go and accessall the services one might need without leaving the campus.The Unit was under the leadership of Dr SN Iipinge as a Coordinator supported by an administrativestaff and a counselor. Furthermore, the Peer Education Programme Manager and the threevolunteers contributed immensely to the achievements of the Unit.6.1.2 Main events of the UnitAn HIV Prevalence Testing was conducted among UNAM staff and students as from 6-10 August.The results show a 1.9% HIV prevalence rate among the participating population (which was53%).The HIV/AIDS Unit organised the World AIDS Day based on the National Theme: “Leadership isThere to Care”. Some highlights of the programme: address by the Registrar of the University,who encouraged the UNAM community to be leaders in their own way to fight the pandemic andto demonstrate their informed actions in relation to the disease; performance by Peer Educators;presentations by an HIV-positive activists Brett Anderson who related his personal story aboutbeing HIV infected after one sexual encounter with a trusted friend; and the Voluntary Counselingand Testing (VCT) that was held on campus as part of commemoration. All 38 people went forVoluntary Counseling Testing (VCT) as part of the commemoration. A donation was given to CAAOrphans.6.1.3 Staff MattersThe Unit counselors and the administrative staff were accorded a chance to attend counselingworkshops with the aim to refresh and strengthen their skills. The peer education managerattended an HIV training workshop in Trinidad with the support of UNESCO.6.1.4 Student Matters45 students were certified as Peer Educators (PEs) trained through the ZAMANAWE PeerEducation which is a programme twining four institutions in SADC. The content covered included54