UN staff publicly tested for HIV

UN officials who were publicly tested for HIV in Namibia's capital, Windhoek, earlier this week, called on political, religious and traditional leaders to do the same. Jacqui Badcock, the UN Development Programme resident representative, said: "By undergoing voluntary counselling and testing, people here today understand that we cannot indulge in business as usual in the face of HIV/AIDS." Breaking the strict confidentiality around HIV testing, the UN officials also allowed themselves to be named and photographed. Badcock said the purpose of the exercise was to promote personal responsibility, defeat AIDS-related stigma and educate people about the importance of knowing their status.