Solidarity Community Care Organisation ___________________________________________________________________________________ Box 3527, Windhoek, Namibia Erf 651, Wewer Street, Extension 8, Reg. WO 311 Khomasdal, Windhoek Tel: 264 61 204 2136 Fax: 264 61 088 624 816 E-mail: chmwandingi@mweb.com.na Mobile: 264 81 237 4937 23 June 2010 PRESS STATEMENT STERILISATION OF HIV-POSITIVE WOMEN WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT IS HIGHLY UNACCEPTABLE The Solidarity Community Care Organisation is adding its voice to the condemnation of sterilisation of HIV-positive women without their consent in Namibia. We cannot remain silent before the denigration of HIV-positive people. The sterilisation of HIV-positive women in Namibia without their consent is a discriminatory practice of the highest order. We express our sincere sympathy with the affected women and assure them of our support. This case is evidence that discrimination of HIV-positive people, based on ignorance about the virus, is still rampant in Namibia. People, especially young people, are denied employment every day on the basis of their HIV status, including by Government institutions. In this way, basically denying them access to food and medication that they need to survive as HIV-positive persons. It is a shame that some Namibian private and Government institutions are bent on saving money to the expense of lives. Recently a company was offering HIV-positive persons insurance through the NBC TV on condition that such people must be on ARV treatment, which means that HIV-positive persons who are not on ARV treatment do not qualify to be insured by the said company. This is another indication of discrimination of HIV-positive people in the country and clearly also based on ignorance about HIV/AIDS. The Solidarity Community Care Organisation urges all HIV-positive persons in the country to unite and fight for their rights while fulfilling their obligations, such as restraining from spreading the virus. We urge all HIV-positive Namibians to denounce all forms of discrimination wherever they manifest themselves in our country. One way to deal with this is to report all suspected or proven cases of discrimination to us by email at chmwandingi@mweb.com.na or at Mobile phone 081 237 4937 anytime. We also call upon all HIV-positive Namibians to unite and put together resources, not only to fight discrimination, but also to fund their own insurances and HIV treatment, as insurance companies notoriously discriminate against HIV-positive persons and in the face of donors and governments around the world reneging on their promises to finance HIV treatment. Yours Sincerely, Constancio Hishiyukifa Mwandingi Chairperson: Solidarity Community Care Organisation