The Oshikoto Regional AIDS Coordinating Committee (RACOC) held its quarterly meeting with various institutions as well as non-governmental organisations in Omuthiya.

RACOC is a platform that brings stakeholders together to tackle issues that affect the communities, such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, etc.

The deliberation revealed that the Oshikoto Region has a high prevalence of malaria since the outbreak last year.

According to the record, Oshikoto has to date recorded eight deaths as a result of malaria.

It is also reported that 84% of malaria cases are locally transmitted, while only 16% are imported cases from Angola.

Moreover, all three districts of the Oshikoto Region (Omuthiya, Onandjokwe, and Tsumeb) are affected, with Omuthiya leading with 42%, Onandjokwe with 33%, and Tsumeb with 26%.

Among the population of Oshikoto, females are more affected by malaria than the male population.

Meanwhile, a faith-based organisation that advocates for zero malaria in the Oshikoto Region, Faith Leaders Advocacy for Malaria Elimination (FLAME), has been assisting the Ministry of Health and Social Services through awareness campaigns and community outreach in terms of indoor residual spraying as well as the distribution of mosquito nets.

Still at the meeting, Martha Amupolo from the TONATA organisation shared with the community about the crucial role played by their organisation in assisting people living with HIV/AIDS, stating that they have mechanisms in place, such as the "village saving loan" (VSL), whereby community members get funds for their startup projects and return the loan with a minimum interest rate of 20%.

Despite the notable achievements, Amupolo highlighted some of the challenges, such as language barriers and different types of disabilities (such as visual impairment), when they are training their members.