HIV treatment access boosted for cross-border patients
In commemoration of this year's World Aids Day, health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula handed over prefabricated structures at Oshikango in the Ohangwena Region to provide HIV care and treatment services for cross-border patients.
Those who live along the Angola-Namibia border face challenges in accessing healthcare services, which was the case particularly during Covid-19 lockdowns.
In order to mitigate these challenges, the Differentiated Service Delivery programme – with funding from the Global Fund and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) – put up seven comprehensive community-based health service prefabricated structures - four in Ohangwena and three in Omusati.
Neighbourly assistance
During the handover, Shangula said Namibia has provided and continues to provide healthcare and treatment services to cross-border patients, including those living along the Angola-Namibia border.
He said during the second quarter of 2022–2023, a total of 913 cross-border patients received healthcare services at border points in Ohangwena.
"The lockdown of borders during the coronavirus pandemic impacted service delivery for cross-border patients negatively. This also forms part of strengthening community engagement to ensure better access to health care services," he said.
The facilities were erected at Olupale, Oshikango, Onghala and Onhunda border points in Ohangwena.
Close to target
While Namibia has made progress in the fight against HIV, there are still many people who are at risk of contracting new infections or defaulting on treatment, Shangula said.
To defeat the epidemic, the country must reach the global targets of 95-95-95.
This means that in order to reach epidemic control, 95% of all persons who are HIV positive must know their status; of those who are positive, 95% of them must be initiated on treatment, and 95% of those who are initiated on treatment, must become virally suppressed.
Namibia currently stands at 92-98-93.
"However, in order to reach such levels of viral suppression, the people must take their medication without fail," he stressed.
In a speech read on his behalf, Ohangwena health director John Hango said there are over 26 000 people in the region who are active on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Celebration
Hango said that being essentially a rural region with inadequate road infrastructure and public transport, they understand that in order to deliver effective HIV services, it should be done through community-based services.
The Ohangwena Region has 45 community-based health services and 234 community adherence groups (CAGs).
CDC country director Brian Baker said they teamed up with the health ministry to ensure services are available to the community.
Baker said the sites were set up at the height of Covid-19 when the borders were shut and people who needed to access healthcare services could no longer visit the facility they usually visited.
"The opening of these sites is a celebration, but it is also a reminder of all we have been through and the lives we have lost in the last two years due to Covid-19," he said.
Those who live along the Angola-Namibia border face challenges in accessing healthcare services, which was the case particularly during Covid-19 lockdowns.
In order to mitigate these challenges, the Differentiated Service Delivery programme – with funding from the Global Fund and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) – put up seven comprehensive community-based health service prefabricated structures - four in Ohangwena and three in Omusati.
Neighbourly assistance
During the handover, Shangula said Namibia has provided and continues to provide healthcare and treatment services to cross-border patients, including those living along the Angola-Namibia border.
He said during the second quarter of 2022–2023, a total of 913 cross-border patients received healthcare services at border points in Ohangwena.
"The lockdown of borders during the coronavirus pandemic impacted service delivery for cross-border patients negatively. This also forms part of strengthening community engagement to ensure better access to health care services," he said.
The facilities were erected at Olupale, Oshikango, Onghala and Onhunda border points in Ohangwena.
Close to target
While Namibia has made progress in the fight against HIV, there are still many people who are at risk of contracting new infections or defaulting on treatment, Shangula said.
To defeat the epidemic, the country must reach the global targets of 95-95-95.
This means that in order to reach epidemic control, 95% of all persons who are HIV positive must know their status; of those who are positive, 95% of them must be initiated on treatment, and 95% of those who are initiated on treatment, must become virally suppressed.
Namibia currently stands at 92-98-93.
"However, in order to reach such levels of viral suppression, the people must take their medication without fail," he stressed.
In a speech read on his behalf, Ohangwena health director John Hango said there are over 26 000 people in the region who are active on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Celebration
Hango said that being essentially a rural region with inadequate road infrastructure and public transport, they understand that in order to deliver effective HIV services, it should be done through community-based services.
The Ohangwena Region has 45 community-based health services and 234 community adherence groups (CAGs).
CDC country director Brian Baker said they teamed up with the health ministry to ensure services are available to the community.
Baker said the sites were set up at the height of Covid-19 when the borders were shut and people who needed to access healthcare services could no longer visit the facility they usually visited.
"The opening of these sites is a celebration, but it is also a reminder of all we have been through and the lives we have lost in the last two years due to Covid-19," he said.
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