Press Release

Official Re-opening of the Remember Eliphas Edutainment Centre at Rundu Military Base

On Friday, July 24, 2009, U.S. Ambassador Dennise Mathieu invited the Namibian media to attend the re-opening of the Remember Eliphas Edutainment Centre and the handover of a vehicle to the Honorable Charles Namoloh, Minister of Defense.  The event commenced at 10:00 a.m. at the military base in Rundu.

The Counseling and Testing Centre known as “Remember Eliphas Edutainment Centre” was renovated and the vehicle procured, through grants from the U. S. President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and will provide accessible and high quality counseling and testing services to the Ministry of Defense and Namibian Defense Force (MOD/NDF) members.  The facility will further enhance the Military Action and Prevention Program’ s goal:  to mitigate the negative impacts of HIV/AIDS and reduce the transmission of HIV among NDF personnel by promoting safer sexual behaviour through prevention education and information, counseling and testing, and promotion and distribution of condoms amongst military personnel.  

The American people, through the PEPFAR and the U.S. Department of Defense, contributed N$700,000 for the renovation, the vehicle with a public address system and training for military health personnel.

In 2009, PEPFAR will donate approximately US$ 107 million to work in partnership with the Namibian government and its nongovernmental, community, and faith-based partners to prevent further infections and provide treatment and care to Namibians infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.  Between 2004-2009, the American people have provided US$ 429 million to fight HIV/AIDS in Namibia. 

For more information, please contact Public Affairs Officer, Ray Castillo, at 0811280816, or Information Assistant, Roger Lyners, at 229801 (ext. 226).