Namibia received an award of recognition for remarkable progress towards reaching the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 targets and efforts towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) over the weekend, Minister Kalumbi Shangula said the award was conferred on Friday in Sandton City, South Africa by the US Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, John Nkengasong.

“One should know the epidemiology of that disease in terms of person, place, and time. We have always used this principle in monitoring and controlling the HIV epidemic in Namibia,” said Shangula.

The minister added that according to the January 2023 report, there is a total of 215 348 Namibians living with HIV and an estimated 7 193 children under the age of 15 live with HIV.

He continued to say that in relation to HIV prevalence by gender, the number of HIV infections is higher in females than in males in Namibia.

“The number of HIV infections is disproportionately high among females compared to their male counterparts. The prevalence is high among women at 15.1 per cent compared to 8.4 per cent in men,” said Shangula.

Shangula said Namibia had achieved 92 per cent – 99 per cent – 94 per cent of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 target. That means that among the estimated People Living with HIV, 92 per cent are aware of their HIV status, 99 per cent are on antiretroviral therapy while 94 per cent are virally suppressed.

He continued to say that Namibia has surpassed the third 95 per cent and is close to achieving the first and third 95 targets.

Shangula concluded by reminding Namibians that the fight is not over and that Namibia should end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Therefore, the ministry has recently completed the review of the National Strategic Framework (NSF) for HIV/AIDS.

“As a result, a new National Strategic Framework for 2023/2024-2027/2028 is finalised and will be launched soon,” said Shangula.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency