Allow me at the outset to express my delegation's appreciation to you for the able manner in which you have been steering the work of this 26 t" Special Session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS. I would like to thank the Secretary-General for a comprehensive and thoughtful report, which will no doubt guide our deliberations on this very important issue of HIV/AIDS.
 

Mr. President,

My delegation welcomes the decision by the General Assembly to convene this Special Session to review the problem of HIV/AIDS and adopt appropriate strategies to combat the pandemic. During the Millennium Summit, the Heads of State and Government made a commitment to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015. This position was reinforced in the Abuja Declaration where African Heads of State and Government renewed their commitment to fight the pandemic.
 

Mr. President,

The first case of AIDS in Namibia was diagnosed in 1986. Soon after independence in 1990, the Government of Namibia launched the First Medium-Term Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS control. Mindful of the fact that, some of the major determinants for HIV transmission lie outside the health sector, the Government elaborated a national expanded response, which culminated in the development and launching of the Second Medium-Term Plan under the newly constituted National AIDS Coordination Programme in March 1999. The National AIDS Coordination Programme consists of the National AIDS Committee at policy level, the National Multi-sectoral AIDS Coordination Committee at executive level and Regional AIDS Coordination Committees at operational level. The Second Medium-Term Plan provides the necessary framework for AIDS control, involving all sectors at the national and regional levels, and includes strategies for HIV/AIDS prevention, management and care.
 

Mr. President,

In accordance with our Second Medium-Term Strategic Plan, we have embarked on a number of selected and targeted activities, including education, promotion of safe sexual practices and use of barrier methods, amongst others. During the course of this year we will start a pilot programme for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission. In the case of patient care, we give robust treatment to AIDS related complications, as the cost of antiretroviral drugs is beyond our means. In addition, we offer psychosocial support and social relief to infected and affected individuals and familles, including assistance to familles who are taking care of orphans.
 

Mr. President,

The Namibian Government has recognized that the protection and fulfillment of human rights is essential in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Namibian Government has thus developed a policy and legal framework, in partnership with civil society that promotes a right-based approach to HIV/AIDS and outlaws discrimination on the basis of HIV status. A Namibian HIV/AIDS Charter of Rights that was developed in the course of a broad consultative process involving government and civil society was adopted in December 2000.
 

Mr. President,

Since independence in 1990, the Government has consistently allocated not less than 15% of the operational budget to health. A substantial part of this budget is spent on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes. HIV/AIDS is adequately covered in our Second National Development Plan and a whole chapter is devoted to this pandemic. At the regional level, SADC member states have taken joint initiatives among which are the SADC Multi-sectoral HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework and Programme of Action 2000-2004.
 

Mr. President,

My delegation calls for research in the development of vaccines against HIV strains, prevalent in regions most affected by the pandemic. We also believe strongly that life-saving drugs must be made available, and affordable to those most in need.
 

Finally, Mr. President,

Namibia believes that national governments need to take ownership of programmes on HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, in order for developing countries to contain the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, they need additional or new resources. In this context, we commend the Secretary-General for the initiative to establish a Global AIDS and Health Fund to combat the HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases. We welcome the pledges made so far and encourage the donor community to make more contributions. We call for the efficient management of the Fund to the extend that it is transparent and flexible enough to respond adequately to the needs of Member States. The criteria for the allocation of funds should be based on the magnitude of the problem and not on the perceived level of country income.
 

I thank you.