AIDS tolerance and awareness is orange

In an effort to increase HIV/AIDS awareness and counter stigma against the disease, Namibians are being urged to wear orange coloured armbands after being tested for HIV. Jon Allen of the Social Marketing Association (SMA), a local affiliate of Population Services International, a family-planning NGO, said every Namibian should know his or her HIV status, as this would enable people to take control of and responsibility for their lives. The local Namibian newspaper quoted Allen as saying: "Our wish is for the armbands to become a symbol of hope, not only for those affected by HIV but for Namibia as a whole. We would like to see everyone wearing one." All New Start voluntary counselling and testing centres countrywide, as well as educational and promotional activities run by SMA are distributing the armbands.