Concern over high number of AIDS NGOs

A continued increase in the number of Namibia's AIDS organisations has resulted in a scramble for scarce donor funds. The AIDS NGO, Lironga Eparu, expressed concern that funds were rarely filtered through to remote parts of the country, where large numbers of people living with HIV/AIDS spent their final days. A local newspaper, The Namibian, quoted Lironga Eparu advocacy manager, Conny Samaria, as saying: "Millions and millions of funds have been given, but where are they? Probably, they end up in ridiculously high salaries for the coordinators and consultants." Samaria said despite having first-hand experience of the pandemic, his organisation found it difficult to get funding from both national and international donors. "You have members of my organisation who don't even know what they will eat the next day," Samaria added.