The Namibian National Teacher Union (NANTU) teamed up with the Namibian Ministry of Education to host Edu-Sector Health Day in the Caprivi region.
Initiatives like the Edu-Sector Health Day are particularly important in Caprivi where HIV prevalence of 32 percent is significantly higher than the national average of 18 percent.
The event took place at the Caprivi College of Education under the theme ‘Health Workforce for better Service Delivery, Healthy Teachers for Quality Education’. Edu-Sector Day provides a much-needed opportunity for education sector employees and their families to access HIV and AIDS prevention advice and, voluntary testing and counselling in an environment free from discrimination and stigma. According to government data, few teachers in the Caprivi region have access to Voluntary Counselling and Testing Services.
Teachers attending had the opportunity to talk openly about HIV and AIDS and hear more about prevention and protection. Minister of Health and Social Services, Richard Nchabi Kamwi highlighted that the education sector was the largest single national employer and acknowledged ‘the immense responsibility’ to protect teachers.
NANTU General Secretary, Basilius Haingura championed the need to give teachers the skills to protect themselves and support teachers living with HIV so that they remained in the classrooms. He pointed to the need to minimise HIV related teacher absenteeism so that quality education could be upheld and promoted.
Edu-Sector Health Day in Caprivi Region was well-attended and NANTU are looking forward to coordinating equally successful Edu-Sector Health Days in other regions of Namibia including Erongo, Khomas, Oshana,Ohangwena and Omusati.