Theater Project Aims To Increase HIV/AIDS Awareness in Namibia’s Farming Sector
In an effort to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in Namibia's farming sector, the Agricultural Employers Association has requested that Quiet Storm, an industrial theater group, perform informative plays to its members, Namibia's New Era reports. The program was initiated by Pharm Access -- a nongovernmental organization that provides health care, including HIV/AIDS treatment.
In 2005, AEA established an HIV/AIDS policy that committed itself and its members to participation in projects and programs to help curb the spread of HIV. AEA CEO Giel Schoombee said the association's goal is to provide information to farmers and other employees who do not have access to HIV/AIDS information because they can be far removed from a majority of the population. Rina Hough, project coordinator of Pharm Access, said that the organization was contacted by AEA in 2006 for assistance in implementing its new policy. Pharm Access conducted a survey among AEA members in 2007 to examine the accessibility of health care and HIV/AIDS awareness, and the play is a follow-up to some of the findings in the survey. Quiet Storm will begin performances in several areas on Monday as part of "information days" for employees, which include informative speakers (Tjaronda, New Era, 1/30).