THE Namibian government is to introduce a policy which will lift the veil of secrecy over Aids by informing close relatives that their next of kin is carrying the deadly virus. In a move aimed at de-stigmatising people with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the resultant acquired immune deficiency syndrome, the Aids condition is to be declared a “notifiable disease”. This means that doctors will now be required, after thoroughly counselling a patient, to inform those closest to the patient about his or her HIV/Aids status. Dr Libertina Amathila, the Minister of Health, said yesterday that Southern African Development Community health ministers “feel collectively that HIV-AIDS must be a notifiable disease where close relatives and partners are informed.” Such disclosure is regarded in many countries as a violation of patient rights.