Remarks

Ambassador Dennise Mathieu
Remarks
Official Re-opening of the MAPP VCT Centre
Rundu Military Base
Friday, 24 July 2009

Good Morning.

 It’s an honor to be here today for the opening of the newly-renovated Remember Eliphas Edutainment Centre.  This occasion marks yet another example of the continued partnership between the people of the United States and Namibia, and the excellent cooperation between the United States Department of Defense, Namibian Ministry of Defense and Namibian Defense Force in the fight against HIV/AIDS. 

Last weekend I watched the Remember Eliphas movies, 1 and 2, and I was reminded of the purpose of this center and why it’s so important.  This Center now provides an additional site for soldiers to easily obtain HIV counseling, testing and other health-related educational services in the comfort of their own military installation.   Getting tested is key to knowing your status.

And knowing your status is key to preventing new infections.

We all must join in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and just as it’s a soldier’s duty to protect his country, it’s also a soldier’s responsibility to protect him or herself.  Counseling and testing enables those who are HIV negative to stay negative by avoiding risky behavior, and counseling and testing encourages those who are infected with HIV to adopt positive lifestyles, to seek care and treatment, and other support services, and to prevent the further spread of the disease.  

Remember Eliphas!  For those of you who don’t know your status, I encourage you to get tested.  

And there’s no better day than today, and no better place than right here at the Remember Eliphas Edutainment Centre.  Research has shown that HIV/AIDS services that are provided in a comprehensive manner allow clients to freely access services without fear of stigma and discrimination.  The Eliphas Centre will deliver health services in a comprehensive manner, focusing on prevention through edutainment and peer education group sessions -- including drama and film, and other health related educational activities.

And  even though the Centre isn’t co-located within the sickbay on base, I’m confident that members of the Namibian Defence Force will make good use of the services offered, and, I’d like to take this opportunity to call upon the Directorate of Defence Health Services and our PEPFAR partners -- I-TECH and SMA -- to work hand in hand to deliver the comprehensive and quality services that the men and women of the Namibian Defence Force deserve. 

I’d also like to thank SMA for their cooperation and work to support the military in re-locating the Centre to the military base where soldiers can have easy access to its services.  Now it’s up to you soldiers to take ownership of the Centre, to manage it well, and avail yourself of its services. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, this project was supported by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR.  $700,000 Namibian dollars funded the building renovations; training and procurement of counseling and testing equipment; a vehicle; and a public address system.  We hope the public address system will be put to good use, and often, to reach soldiers with HIV/AIDS messages, including information about the benefits of male circumcision; the risks of having multiple, concurrent partners, and the risk of alcohol abuse.  We also hope messages will be delivered about living positively for those infected with HIV. 

Honorable Minister, we recently learned at the HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting held in Windhoek last month that mobile counseling and testing services have a better chance of reaching more people than fixed sites.  We also know that counseling and testing services offered during routine clinic visits will ensure that more people learn their HIV status. 

We therefore look forward to working with the Ministry to introduce mobile and additional sickbay services so that all soldiers who would like to know their status will be able to get tested irrespective of where they’re stationed in Namibia.

I would like to commend the Minister of Defense, Honorable Charles Namoloh, for his continued dedication to the fight against HIV/AIDS; to ensuring that every soldier has information about the disease and knows how to protect him or herself; and to making sure that those living with the virus receive adequate care and support. 

I also commend the commitment of the Ministry of Defence for supporting a zero-prevalence study of the military, which will help in planning future programs, and the United States Government is looking forward to providing the necessary support for this activity.

And now, Minister Namoloh, it’s my great pleasure to hand over the keys of the fully refurbished Remember Eliphas Centre, along with the public address system and vehicle, to carry out edutainment activities for the benefit of members of the Namibian Defense Force.  

Thank you!