THE Namibian health ministry has refused to participate in a $100-million Aids prevention programme funded by a multinational pharmaceutical company, according to news reports. The programme, “Secure The Future: Care and Support for Women and Children With Aids”, aims to expand medical research focusing on women and children and to improve community outreach over the next five years. The project was launched in Johannesburg last week by US giant Bristol-Myers Squibb, and is aimed at Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa. A representative of the company said the Namibian health ministry was not represented at the Johannesburg meeting.