The Rehoboth New Start Centre, which provides affordable, voluntary HIV / AIDS counseling and testing, was officially inaugurated on 25 June by the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Hon. Richard Kamwi and Bishop Kameeta of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia.

New Start Centres, which are opening in major population centres across Namibia, are widely regarded as vital to combating and minimizing the long-term impact of HIV / AIDS. The Rehoboth New Start Centre is managed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church AIDS Programme in Namibia and is funded by the US Government under President Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the USAID office. Technical guidance and leadership is provided by the Social Marketing Association, which runs the New Start network of VCT centres.

Prior to the opening of New Start centres, HIV AIDS testing was only available at hospitals or through private facilities. New Start VCT now provides an anonymous alternative to these services at an affordable N$10, which covers 3 months’ worth of services. People can come to the centres just to talk to counsellors about their HIV concerns without taking a test if they are not ready for it. There is a misconception that New Start VCT centres are just for HIV+ people. New Start centres are for the general public, and of course the majority of clients visiting are HIV negative. New Start works ith individuals to help HIV negative people stay negative and to helps HIV positive people adjust to the virus and make whatever changes necessary in their personal life to include treatment and positive living. The focus of New Start is to work with the client’s own circumstances and constraints.

The ELCAP Rehoboth New Start Centre is regarded as particularly successful and has achieved wide acceptance by the community. Some 340 residents have visited the centre and made use of its services during the three months prior to its official inauguration.

The Rehoboth New Start Centre is located on the Lutheran Church premises in Church Street, Block B.