To address supply shortages, the United States delivered 6.9 million condoms and 2.6 million lubricants to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) on Tuesday.
Namibia has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, and condoms remain a health sector priority for HIV prevention.
Jessica Long, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, stated at a press conference here that these commodities are valued at US.dollars 275 000 (approximately N.dollars 4.3 million) and will be distributed to 273 hotspots and 14 pick-up points, primarily targeting Key Populations (KPs) that are not yet supplied by the health ministry.
KPs, according to her, include female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender people, who are especially vulnerable and disproportionately affected by HIV due to high-risk behaviours, marginalisation, stigma, discrimination, violence and criminalisation, all of which contribute to a lack of access to health services.
“US founding father Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ While there has been notable advancement in the development and deployment of ARV treatment, there is unfortunately still no cure for HIV. This is why prevention is so important,” Long said.
She went on to say that the condoms and lubricants were purchased with money from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) by the United States Agency for International Development (USAIDGlobal)’s Health Supply Chain Programme.
MoHSS Executive Director, Ben Nangombe said Namibia has made significant progress in combating and controlling the HIV/AIDS epidemic with the help of the ministry’s partners and that while there are still gaps that need to be addressed, particularly around HIV testing among key populations and young people, the progress made thus far should be recognised and appreciated.
“We are inspired by Namibia’s progress toward the global fast track targets and the 95-95-95 cascade. According to our programme data, 92 per cent of people living with HIV are aware of their status, 99 per cent are on treatment, and 93 per cent of those on treatment are virally suppressed. This is a tremendous accomplishment that puts Namibia on track to meet the 95-95-95 targets by 2030,” he said.
Since 2005, the United States has collaborated with the Namibian government and non-governmental organisations to expand access to HIV services throughout the country.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
