Men must come to the party
A comprehensive survey on the status of the HIV epidemic in Namibia has shed light on the remarkable progress in the country's efforts to achieve epidemic control, with a close to 50% reduction in the annual rate of new infections and total prevalence down from around 14% to 12.6%.
Most importantly, Namibia is close to achieving the global UNAIDS target for 2020, which requires that 90% of people to be tested for HIV, to have 90% of people who are HIV positive on treatment and to have 90% of those on treatment virally suppressed.
Namibian women have in fact achieved that target, despite the fact that there is a higher rate of HIV prevalence among women than men.
Moreover, around 77% of people living with HIV in Namibia are virally suppressed, an indication that they take their medicines and are much less likely to infect a partner.
On the worrying side, as highlighted by public health experts and minister of health Bernard Haufiku recently, is how to reach young men, whose reluctance to be tested and avoidance to stay on treatment, has played a decisive role in Namibia not yet achieving the triple-90 targets.
Men have to come to the party, as the recent Namibia Population-based HIV impact assessment (Namphia) survey shows.
Studies have shown that male circumcision can reduce the risk of HIV infection by around 60%, and the national push with the help of celebrity endorsements has created buy-in and one third of Namibian men are circumcised.
Moreover, older men between the ages of 55 to 64 have achieved more than 86% viral load suppression, indicating adherence to treatment and willingness to be tested.
Nevertheless, without innovative ways to address the barriers that keep young men from accessing tests and from taking easily available medication to ensure they do not infect their partners, Namibia still faces an uphill battle.
Most importantly, Namibia is close to achieving the global UNAIDS target for 2020, which requires that 90% of people to be tested for HIV, to have 90% of people who are HIV positive on treatment and to have 90% of those on treatment virally suppressed.
Namibian women have in fact achieved that target, despite the fact that there is a higher rate of HIV prevalence among women than men.
Moreover, around 77% of people living with HIV in Namibia are virally suppressed, an indication that they take their medicines and are much less likely to infect a partner.
On the worrying side, as highlighted by public health experts and minister of health Bernard Haufiku recently, is how to reach young men, whose reluctance to be tested and avoidance to stay on treatment, has played a decisive role in Namibia not yet achieving the triple-90 targets.
Men have to come to the party, as the recent Namibia Population-based HIV impact assessment (Namphia) survey shows.
Studies have shown that male circumcision can reduce the risk of HIV infection by around 60%, and the national push with the help of celebrity endorsements has created buy-in and one third of Namibian men are circumcised.
Moreover, older men between the ages of 55 to 64 have achieved more than 86% viral load suppression, indicating adherence to treatment and willingness to be tested.
Nevertheless, without innovative ways to address the barriers that keep young men from accessing tests and from taking easily available medication to ensure they do not infect their partners, Namibia still faces an uphill battle.
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Namibian Sun
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