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Teacher numbers depleted by AIDS

    JOHANNESBURG

    A new report by Namibia's education authorities estimates that around 3,360 teachers could be lost due to HIV/AIDS by 2010.

    "Evidence suggests teacher losses averaged 1.5 percent over the last two years with a higher rate of 2 percent in the North," the report said.

    The report also called for a national antiretroviral (ARV) plan and for the introduction of HIV prevention skills programmes for educators.

    "We must sort this problem [the lack of ARVs] out. We need a plan on how to replenish the teachers," the ministry's director of basic education and co-author, Claudia Tjikuua, told the UN news service PlusNews.

    Health minister Libertina Amathila last Friday said the government would implement a free treatment plan within two months.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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