With the aim
of raising awareness among the general public and the fighting against the
destructive HIV/Aids pandemic, the Polytechnic of Namibia held their annual
HIV/Aids awareness campaign this week. ?It is tragic that at the onset of this
new millennium the world is confronted with the devastating HIV/Aids pandemic
which is causing terrible miseries and deaths of millions of people globally,?
said the rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Tjama Tjivikua. The awareness campaign
was held in partnership with students, staff and the public at Wernhill Park on
Wednesday, 1 June. The mayor of the city of Windhoek, Mathew Shikongo, said that
HIV/Aids is robbing us of our people and future successors. He urged all present
to take this HIV/Aids awareness campaign seriously and said the city of Windhoek
will join and give the necessary support. According to the organisers, the
health of the nation is a key determinant of our success and development.
?HIV/Aids touches everyone, it kills without conscience, rich or poor, black or
white, young or old. More than ever before we need to focus on what unites us,
not divides us?, he quoted Sean Combs (a.k.a P Diddy) as saying. According to Dr
Tjivikua, as long as the world is affected in any way by HIV/Aids, we had to
accept that we are all affected. This year was the Polytechnic’s ninth HIV/Aids
awareness campaign and was themed ‘Reach out and Touch’. Various schools,
representatives of children?s organisation, individuals and members of the
community joined the awareness campaign. Dr Tjivikua thanked all the
Polytechnic’s partners in education for the support they provided and continued
to provide. He offered a special and hearty thanks to the city of Windhoek,
UNICEF, UNFPA, First National Bank, MetHealth, Namibia Medical Care and all the
other sponsors and supporters.