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The demographic and socio-economic impact of HIV/Aids on the Khomas region and the implications for the Windhoek local authority

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: HIV/AIDS is one of the biggest challenges faced by many countries in this century. The rate
of infection is rapidly increasing and more and more people are getting ill and dying from
AIDS. Of all the people living with AIDS in the world, seven out of ten live in Sub-Saharan
Africa. Namibia is one of the top five most HIV/AIDS affected countries in the world. There
is therefore no question about the urgent need to accelerate actions to reduce prevalence,
expand care and support and extend access to treatment. AIDS is eroding decades of progress
made in extending life expectancy; thus hundreds of adults are dying young or in early middle
age. The national strategic plan (2004) on HIV/AIDS indicated that the average life
expectancy in Namibia is now 42 years, when it could have been 60 without AIDS.
A 2003 study on the impact of HIV/AIDS on Windhoek indicated that the antenatal
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Windhoek for 2002 was 27%, while the national prevalence rate
was estimated at 22.3%. The prevalence rate for Windhoek is expected to reach its peak at
38% during 2005.
Even though HIV/AIDS will have a diminishing effect on population growth, Windhoek's
population is expected to continue growing, particular as a result of inward migration, but at a
slower pace.
Similarly, HIV/AIDS will have an abating effect on GDP growth as the virus will mainly
affect the economic active and available labour force of the population and result in increased
labour costs and skilled labour shortages.
The impact on the informal sector is potentially more damaging than on the formal economic
sector, as the majority of micro- enterprises and informal businesses are build around one
individual. As the breadwinner dies, household income and expenditures levels deteriorate
and increase poverty levels, because households within the city are very dependent on family
structures to support their income levels. Informal settlements are also more volatile to HIV
transmission and the majority of HIV infected individuals are likely to be found within these
areas as the populations is poorer, crowded, has fewer social services facilities and is more
likely migratory compared to those in affluent formal settlements. Considering that the incubation period of HIV/AIDS from infection to death takes about ten
years, the real impact of current HIV infections in Windhoek will only be experienced during
2010. Health services will have to attend to a greater demand for curative services as well as
to social care and support programs. Social welfare programmes will need to find ways of
caring for a large population of HIV/AIDS orphans.
Municipalities can playa critically important role in addressing HIV/AIDS at a local level as
they are at the interface of community and government. They are ideally placed to playa coordinating
and facilitating role that is needed to make sure that partnerships are built to bring
prevention and care programmes to every community affected by AIDS. Therefore, in order
to succeed in confronting HIV/AIDS, it is important to work closely with all levels of
government as well as working with local partners in civil society that are fighting HIV/AIDS
at the community level.
By taking action against HIV/AIDS, municipalities are securing the future of their towns and
communities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: MIV/VIGS is een van die grootste uitdagings wat baie lande hierdie eeu in die gesig staar. Die
koers van infeksie is vinnig aan die toeneem en al hoe meer mense word siek en sterf as
gevolg van VIGS. Van al die mense wat met VIGS lewe in die wêreld, bly sewe uit tien in
sub-Sahara Afrika. Namibië is een van die vyf mees MIV/VIGS geaffekteerde lande in die
wêreld. Derhalwe is daar geen twyfel rakende die noodsaaklikheid om daadwerklike aksies te
bewerkstellig om die voorkoms te verminder, sorg en ondersteuning te verhoog en toegang na
behandeling uit te brei. VIGS vernietig dekades van groei behaal in die verlenging van
lewensverwagting; dus sterf honderde volwassenes vroeg of gedurende hul middeljare. Die
nasionale strategiese plan (2004) rakende MIV/VIGS toon dat die gemiddelde
lewensverwagting in Namibië huidiglik 42 jaar is instede van 60 sonder VIGS.
'n Studie onderneem gedurende 2003, rakende die effek van MIV/VIGS in Windhoek, dui aan
dat die voorgeboorte MIV/VIGS voorkoms koers 27% vir 2002 was, terwyl die nasionale
voorkoms koers slegs 22.3% was. Daar word verwag dat die voorkoms koers vir Windhoek sy
maksimum van 38% sal bereik gedurende 2005.
Alhoewel MIV/VIGS 'n negatiewe effek op bevolkingsgroei groei gaan het, sal Windhoek se
inwoners getalle steeds groei, alhoewel teen 'n stadiger koers, as gevolg van inwaartse
migrasie. Terselfdertyd, gaan MIV/VIGS 'n verminderde effek het op die groei van die Bruto
Binnelandse Produk (BBP), omdat die virus hoofsaaklik die ekonomiese aktiewe en
beskikbare arbeidsmag van die bevolking affekteer wat as gevolg hiervan 'n verhoging in
arbeidskoste en tekort aan geskoolde arbeid het.
Die effek op die informele sektore is potensieel meer skadelik as op die formele ekonomiese
faktore, aangesien die meeste klein en informele besighede rondom een persoon gebou is.
lndien die broodwinner sterf, versleg die vlakke van huishoudelike inkomste en uitgawes wat
lei tot verhoogde armoede, omdat huishoudings in die stad baie afhanklik is op familie
strukture om hulle inkomste te ondersteun. Informele vestigings is meer kwesbaar in die
oordrag van MIV en die meerderheid van die MIV geïnfekteerde individue word gewoonlik in
hierdie areas aangetref omdat die bevolking armer is, meer persone huisves, minder welsyn
dienste fasiliteite het en meer swerwend is in vergelyking met die meer welgestelde formele
vestigings. As in ag geneem word dat die ontkiemings periode van MIV/VIGS vanaf infeksie tot en met
sterfte omtrent tien jaar neem, sal die werklike effek van die huidige VIGS besmettings in
Windhoek slegs ervaar word gedurende 2010. Gesondheidsdienste sal moet aandag skenk
aan 'n groter aanvraag vir geneeslike dienste sowel as sosiale sorg en ondersteunings
programme. Gemeenskaplike welsyn programme sal maniere moet vind om vir 'n groot
populasie van MIV/VIGS weeskinders te sorg.
Munisipaliteite kan 'n belangrike rol speel in die aanspreek van die MIV/VIGS epidemie op 'n
plaaslike vlak omdat hulle die skakel is tussen die gemeenskap en die regering. Hulle is ideaal
geplaas om 'n koordineerende en fasiliterende rol te speel wat nodig is om seker te maak dat
vennootskappe gebou word om voorkomings en versorgings programme te lewer aan elke
gemeenskap wat deur MIV/VIGS geraak word. Dus, om sukses te behaal in die bekamping
van MIV/VIGS , is dit belangrik om nou saam te werk met alle vlakke van die regering sowel
as met plaaslike vennote in die gemeenskap wat MIV/VIGS bekamp op gemeenskapsvlak.
Deur aksie te neem teen MIV/VIGS , kan munisipaliteite die toekoms van hulle dorpe en
gemeenskappe verseker.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/50131
Date12 1900
CreatorsRamothibe, J. C. (Joseph Colin)
ContributorsRoux, A., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format62 p.
RightsStellenbosch University

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