Press Release

Joint U.S. Embassy Windhoek-Ministry of Health and Social Services
Press Release:

2009 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting Will Be Held in Windhoek
June 10 – June 14

HIV/AIDS implementers from all over the world will gather in Windhoek, Namibia, from June10 – June 14, for the 2009 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting.  The organizers expect that 1700 participants will attend, representing governments, non-governmental, faith- and community-based organizations, multilateral organizations, the private sector, and people living with HIV/AIDS. 

The theme for this year’s meeting is:  Optimizing the Response: Partnerships for Sustainability.  This topic focuses on two of the U. S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief’s (PEPFAR) continuing priorities:  the importance of partnerships and the search for sustainable solutions in the worldwide fight against HIV/AIDS.  The 2009 meeting in Namibia will build on last year’s very successful conference which was held in Kampala, Uganda.

Through technical presentations and discussion, the forum will facilitate an open dialogue about future directions for HIV/AIDS programs.  As in the past, there will be a strong emphasis on highlighting best implementation practices and identifying barriers to successful treatment, care, and prevention.

The United States Embassy in Windhoek and the Ministry of Health and Social Services are very pleased to announce this meeting.   “I look forward to working in partnership with you to realize the success of PEPFAR and indeed to make this meeting a success,” said Richard Kamwi, Minister of Health and Social Services.  U.S. Ambassador Dennise Mathieu agreed:  “By selecting Namibia for this important meeting, the world community is recognizing the success that Namibia has had in its fight against HIV/AIDS.  We all look forward to the fruitful and critical discussions that will help all nations better fight this scourge.”

The 2009 meeting is hosted by the Government of Namibia and, once again, is sponsored by PEPFAR; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria; UNAIDS; UNICEF; the World Bank; the World Health Organization (WHO); and the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+).

This meeting will gather program implementers from all over the world to share best practices and lessons learned in the fight against global AIDS.  It is the only meeting of its kind focused specifically on how best to implement programs to fight HIV/AIDS.  The main goal of the 2009 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting is to widely disseminate best practices and lessons learned during the implementation of HIV/AIDS programs with a focus on:   optimizing the impact of prevention, care and treatment programs; enhancing the quality of our programs; promoting coordination among partners; and, encouraging innovation.   The meeting will catalyze an open dialogue about future directions of HIV/AIDS programs, strongly emphasizing their implementation.  The partners hope to have a direct impact on HIV/AIDS program implementation in the upcoming year with the goal of building a sustainable response.

For further information on PEPFAR or the 2009 Implementers Meeting, please contact Public Affairs Officer Ray Castillo at 0811280816 or Information Assistant Roger Lyners, at 229801 (ext. 226).  For further information on MOHSS and its programs, please contact Dr. Ndapewa Hamunime, at 081 124 8735.