US gives millions to fight HIV/Aids
The United States has increased its funding of Namibia's HIV/Aids campaign.
Funding to the tune of N$435 million from the United States government to help continue the fight against Namibia's top killer, HIV/Aids, forms part of an amended grant agreement.
Although there has been notable progress in Namibia's efforts to reduce new HIV infections and provide healthcare to those in need, HIV/Aids continues to kill up to 3 900 people each year and many living with HIV do not yet receive treatment.
A June 2017 report issued by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) found that the national prevalence for people aged 15 to 49 is 13.3%.
It is estimated that 230 000 adults and children in Namibia live with HIV/Aids and the disease has left thousands of orphans in its wake.
The Namibian government, representatives from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and US ambassador Thomas Daughton this week signed an amendment to their 2007 bilateral grant agreement to add vital funding under the Pepfar programme.
In Namibia, Pepfar is led by the US ambassador and managed by an inter-agency team.
With the latest financial aid, the USAID contribution to the agreement with Namibia totals N$4.1 billion since its inception in 2007.
The foreign aid boost from the US government will help fund activities under the 2017 Pepfar country operational plan (COP17).
Pepfar and USAID funding is used to support Namibia's efforts to combat HIV/Aids on several fronts.
The work includes HIV testing and treatment, prevention measures, capacity building and logistics support. These efforts are aligned to help Namibia reach the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals, which means 90% of Namibians infected with HIV know their status, 90% of those individuals are on treatment and 90% of those on treatment are non-infectious. When this is achieved and sustained, the HIV epidemic will officially be considered under control.
“Namibia has significantly reduced maternal and neonatal mortality.
Both infant and under-five mortality has declined. HIV/Aids in pregnant women has reduced from a peak of 22% to 16.9% in 2014,” the National Planning Commission reported this week.
About 80% of people living with HIV in Namibia know their HIV status, and between 75% and 80% of people living with HIV in Namibia are currently on antiretroviral treatment. About 87% of people on treatment are virally suppressed. The minister of economic planning, Tom Alweendo, and the deputy minister of health and social services, Juliet Kavetuna, joined Daughton and John Groarke, the director of USAID in southern Africa, during this week's proceedings.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Although there has been notable progress in Namibia's efforts to reduce new HIV infections and provide healthcare to those in need, HIV/Aids continues to kill up to 3 900 people each year and many living with HIV do not yet receive treatment.
A June 2017 report issued by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) found that the national prevalence for people aged 15 to 49 is 13.3%.
It is estimated that 230 000 adults and children in Namibia live with HIV/Aids and the disease has left thousands of orphans in its wake.
The Namibian government, representatives from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and US ambassador Thomas Daughton this week signed an amendment to their 2007 bilateral grant agreement to add vital funding under the Pepfar programme.
In Namibia, Pepfar is led by the US ambassador and managed by an inter-agency team.
With the latest financial aid, the USAID contribution to the agreement with Namibia totals N$4.1 billion since its inception in 2007.
The foreign aid boost from the US government will help fund activities under the 2017 Pepfar country operational plan (COP17).
Pepfar and USAID funding is used to support Namibia's efforts to combat HIV/Aids on several fronts.
The work includes HIV testing and treatment, prevention measures, capacity building and logistics support. These efforts are aligned to help Namibia reach the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals, which means 90% of Namibians infected with HIV know their status, 90% of those individuals are on treatment and 90% of those on treatment are non-infectious. When this is achieved and sustained, the HIV epidemic will officially be considered under control.
“Namibia has significantly reduced maternal and neonatal mortality.
Both infant and under-five mortality has declined. HIV/Aids in pregnant women has reduced from a peak of 22% to 16.9% in 2014,” the National Planning Commission reported this week.
About 80% of people living with HIV in Namibia know their HIV status, and between 75% and 80% of people living with HIV in Namibia are currently on antiretroviral treatment. About 87% of people on treatment are virally suppressed. The minister of economic planning, Tom Alweendo, and the deputy minister of health and social services, Juliet Kavetuna, joined Daughton and John Groarke, the director of USAID in southern Africa, during this week's proceedings.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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