The contest to determine who would succeed Namibian president Sam Nujoma as head of the ruling South West African People's Organisation (Swapo) was eagerly watched in the country and the Southern African region.

Lukas Hifikepunye Pohamba has ultimately emerged to take over the reins from Nujoma, who is constitutionally barred from running for another term in office. General elections will take place in Namibia towards the end of the year.

Given Swapo's commanding position in the country's political landscape, close scrutiny is already being given to Pohamba's views on a range of issues - not least Namibia's 22% HIV prevalence rate.

"HIV/Aids is a very, very big problem in our country because I see it reducing our population," Pohamba told IPS.

"Days like Saturdays and Sundays, which were originally reserved for resting, are now days for burials. There is no Namibian family that has not lost a loved one to Aids or Aids-related illnesses."

Namibia is one of the five countries is the world most affected by the pandemic. But at present, government is struggling to supply HIV-positive citizens with affordable antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). This problem has been blamed on the vastness of the country, and staff shortages.

According to the National Aids Coordination Programme (Nacop), 150 000 people are currently in need of ARVs (this out of a population of 1,8-million). Nacop was established five years ago to implement government policies for curbing the spread of Aids in the country.

At present, authorities are distributing ARVs at seven centres located in six of the country's 13 administrative regions. This programme began last June.

"We could not cover all the regions due to shortages of staff, but we are expecting to extend the programme to the other parts of the country within the next six months," says Norbert Forster, under-secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

Government announced earlier this year that it would set aside just over $1-million a year to buy ARVs - with most of this assistance going to Caprivi, the north-eastern region with the highest HIV infection rate in Namibia.

However, Foster was unable to say whether this amount would be sufficient to cover the cost of purchasing ARVs for everyone who needs them. (The particularly high HIV prevalence in Caprivi has been ascribed to the fact that the region serves as a transit point for people from Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana - all of which are fighting to contain Aids.)

At present, government is the only institution funding ARV distribution in the country.

Namibia also finds itself having to do battle with the stigma that still attaches to those who disclose their HIV infection.

Speaking at a gathering this week, Aids activist Joan Gurirab - the wife of Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab - noted that people living with Aids risk getting fired from jobs and evicted from homes, while HIV-positive children could find themselves being denied day care.

"Families have broken up because one of the spouses has HIV – a husband generally leaves his wife once she is known to be infected with the disease," said Gurirab, adding "The stigma attached to HIV/Aids may extend into the next generation, placing an emotional burden on children who are trying to cope with the Aids-related death of their family members."

Pohamba told IPS that it was important for Namibians to start talking openly about HIV in order to destroy the stigma associated with Aids, and halt the spread of the disease.

"We must call a spade a spade, and even state clearly in the death certificate that the person died of Aids or an Aids-related illness -instead of writing that he or she died of pneumonia or tuberculosis," he noted.

But, is Pohamba prepared to put his money where his mouth is? While he commended the governor of the southern Karas region, Stephanus Goliath, for publicly taking an Aids test recently, Swapo's new leader has yet to do so himself.

Asked why, Pohamba said, "If what I have been told by the doctors as being the cause of HIV/Aids is correct, than I would say I don't have it because I don't go around to pick up the HIV."

This statement does little to reassure 21-year-old Nelao Martin, who declared her HIV-positive status in 2002. She told IPS that a universal willingness to get tested for Aids was crucial to fighting the stigma associated with HIV.

Goliath, apparently the first Namibian politician to be publicly tested, told reporters that it was important for those in leadership positions to take an HIV test and declare their status.

"It is crucial what we as leaders do now to save our society."

"Aids is real. Aids is with us. Aids kills. Silence kills. Secrecy kills," he added. – Sapa-IPS.