15 June 2009

Windhoek, Namibia: Awareness-raising is key to tackling the HIV/AIDS threat. In Namibia’s public sector, UNV volunteer James Etuwat works across the board to ensure combating HIV/AIDS is on everyone’s minds.

Mr. Etuwat comes from Uganda, a country he says “was once ravaged by HIV but managed to bring prevalence down from 30 percent to 7.5 percent.” While in Uganda, he attained relevant expertise “through a wide range of training and experience in development programme management.”

As a Technical Advisor for HIV Public Sector Programme Coordination in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Etuwat now works in partnership with 28 public service ministries, agencies and offices in Namibia.

“The key thrust of my assignment,” he explains, “is strengthening the Namibian public service HIV/AIDS response for increased access to prevention, treatment, care and impact mitigation services… Due to our team’s efforts in advocacy, capacity building and other activities, there is now an increased discussion, participation, planning and action on HIV/AIDS.”

Effectively, this means ensuring the 84,000-strong public service is properly informed on HIV/AIDS, which in turn helps lead to more effective policies and management as well as reducing risk among the civil servants themselves.

His working week is varied, and is based on dialogue with and analysis of the office, ministry or agency he is assisting at the time. This groundwork is then used to develop HIV/AIDS objectives and strategy for the organization and its management. He also helps the organizations designate a budget and resources, and set up a committee and focal point system for HIV/AIDS issues.

Once this stage is complete, Mr. Etuwat continues to support each organizations’ programme from the Office of the Prime Minister. He also coordinates with UNDP’s poverty and HIV/AIDS programmes, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“Under James Etuwat’s guidance and supervision, many changes were initiated,” says one beneficiary, Kaarina Niitembu of the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement, who acts as HIV/AIDS focal point in her department. “He assisted us in functional skills such as HIV/AIDS in the workplace, how to put together workplace policies, talked about drivers of the epidemic, how to facilitate discussion, and how to be focused.”

In addition to his work with civil servants, in his spare time James Etuwat continues his involvement in Namibia’s fight against HIV/AIDS. “I have been visiting the sick in hospital, and speaking to individuals about HIV/AIDS and the necessary attitudinal and behavioural changes to mitigate its impact,” he remarks. “I have also been encouraging individuals to set up or join voluntary associations.”

“I wish to utilize my skills, attitude, knowledge and background,” he concludes, “to both professionally and voluntarily provide support to those in need, in an environment of trust through the UN.”