Businesses support HIV cause
More than 12 million children are orphaned by AIDS in Africa. In Namibia there are 80 000 orphans, 75% of whom are AIDS orphans. “HIV/AIDS has not only diluted efforts to reduce poverty and life expectancy but has become a constraining factor to the extended traditional family, as well as overwhelming the national health and education system. Hence the call to use our resources to assist those affected by AIDS,” said Penehupifo Pohamba, first lady of Namibia, at the Dr Christina Swart-Opperman AIDS Foundation Trust fund raising gala dinner held recently. Companies such as Namibia Breweries Limited, Price WaterhouseCoopers, First National Bank, Office Economix and the Safari Hotel, jointly funded the hosting of the gala dinner. The money collected at the gala event will be paid into the trust and will be used to improve the quality of life of AIDS orphans. The trust’s vision is to contribute towards social reform in the country by specifically addressing the needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS. Picture: (Left to right) Paul Oosthuizen from Officeconomix, Stefan Hugo, from PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Dr Christina Swart-Opperman, founder of the trust, Ingrid Goeieman from First National Bank and Gideon Shilongo from Namibia Breweries Limited. (Photograph contributed)
