Health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula has stated that to address the HIV epidemic, stakeholders engaged and mobilised resources to combat the spread of infection.
The engagement also created an opportunity to provide the necessary medical countermeasures to restore the health of those affected, and save lives.
“Looking back at the successes recorded, we can all agree that progress has been made. However, challenges remain, and we need to continuously retool our toolkit,” said the lawmaker at the second meeting of the regional technical network on resource optimisation of HIV and broader health resources.
He said the struggle against HIV/AIDS continues to demand concerted attention – and although new HIV infections have been declining globally, the journey remains fraught with challenges.
Shangula said: “We should spare no effort to ensure that we plan carefully, coherently and in an integrated manner so that the hard-won gains we have achieved in our responses to HIV/AIDS and other diseases are not reversed, or undone”.
He noted that it is evident that the goal of ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat is within reach.
“However, we cannot rest on our laurels. This goal cannot be achieved without resolute action, effective resource utilisation and a renewed commitment from all stakeholders, backed up by science and data,” he stated.
At the same occasion, deputy chief of mission Brandon Hudspeth said the United States’ government has established this Regional Technical Network to share information to improve alignment, efficiency and effective use of HIV and other health resources.
“Just as Namibia has been a leader in combatting HIV/AIDS, it has also been a leader in sustainability. Over the past few years, Namibia has already begun implementation of programme shifts that will ensure HIV services are efficient and effective,” he noted.
He highlighted the acceleration of six months of dispensing, integration of clinical services, reform of the national Community Health Worker programme, and the introduction of Community Health Posts which bring service delivery to remote areas, one of which was inaugurated just last week in Kunene.
In December 2023, the ministry and development partners started the process of erecting 12 prefabricated Community Health Posts in Oshikoto, Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati, Omaheke, Zambezi and Kunene regions.
One of those facilities is the Oroutumba Health Post in Kunene. The US government, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief(Pepfar), is proud to have partnered with Namibia to help move these critical and innovative initiatives forward, adding that “ensuring sustainable control of the HIV/AIDS epidemic requires, stronger than ever, cooperation and coordination among stakeholders”, Hudspethsaid.
He added that their continuous collaboration and partnerships remain focused on ending service inequities and gaps that still hinder progress in maintaining HIV control, and eliminating tuberculosis and malaria.