Women's Group Calls on Namibia to Increase HIV/AIDS Treatment Access, Address Poverty, Cultural Practices

The Women's Leadership Centre -- an organization that focuses on HIV/AIDS, women's rights and culture -- recently called on the Namibian government to make HIV/AIDS treatment available at all health clinics in the country and to educate the public about the government's HIV treatment program, the Namibian/AllAfrica.com reports. The group also said the government should begin a national HIV/AIDS food-relief program for low-income people taking antiretroviral drugs.

WLC recently launched a booklet calling on Namibian women to challenge poverty and certain cultural practices in an effort to fight HIV/AIDS. In addition, WLC called on the government to denounce sexual violence against women and cultural practices such as widow inheritance, as well as to educate women and girls about such practices. According to the Legal Assistance Centre, Namibia has one of the highest rates of sexual violence worldwide, the Namibian/AllAfrica.com reports (Shinana, Namibian/AllAfrica.com, 8/30).

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