Niël Terblanché
Namibia’s progress in combating HIV/AIDS and the integration of mental health into healthcare services was reinforced during the commemoration of World AIDS Day 2024 in Rundu on Friday.
Dr Kalumbi Shangula, the minister of health and social services spoke at the vent in the Kavango East region and said the country has made great strides to eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Shangula said that the country stands among the global leaders in addressing the epidemic.
“We now stand at the cusp of ending AIDS as a public health threat by the year 2030,” he said while also paying homage to health workers, development partners, and the resilience of the Namibian people.
As part of the commemoration, Shangula also launched five critical documents aimed at strengthening Namibia’s HIV and tuberculosis (TB) response.
Among these was the revised Drug-resistant TB Pocket Guidelines, tailored to align with the latest scientific and clinical evidence to improve patient outcomes and reduce treatment duration.
“TB is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among persons with HIV,” he said while stressing the importance of coordinated treatment strategies.
Also unveiled were the Mental Health Standard Operating Procedures and the Community Mental Health Toolkit, groundbreaking initiatives integrating mental health into HIV and TB care.
“Studies have shown that people living with HIV are twice as likely to experience mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. These challenges should be addressed to ensure holistic and effective care,” he said.
The Mine Health and Safety Standard Operating Procedures, adapted from regional templates, was also launched and will tackle occupational health risks such as TB, silicosis, and other lung diseases prevalent in the mining sector.
The Sustainability Road Map for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, and Malaria was also launched and according to Shangula, it reflects Namibia’s robust commitment to health financing and service delivery.
The minister also spoke about Namibia’s commendable achievements in the HIV response.
According to Shangula, 93% of individuals living with HIV have been tested and know their status, 95% of those have initiated antiretroviral therapy, and 98% are virally suppressed.
He said that these figures surpass global averages and demonstrate Namibia’s dedication to combating the epidemic.
The country also recently received international recognition for its progress in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
The event also served as the handover of 13 Gene-Xpert machines, acquired with support from the Global Fund.
According to Shangula, these machines will decentralize testing for TB drug resistance, enabling regions outside Windhoek to conduct vital diagnostics.
“The machines will assist in our efforts to eliminate TB as a public health threat by 2030,” he said.
Shangula stressed the importance of mental health in HIV care, stating that integrated approaches reduce stigma and improve treatment adherence.
“We must continue to talk about these matters in order to create awareness and to reduce stigma,” he urged.
The minister urged Namibians to remain steadfast in their efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
“Let us depart from here with a greater sense of purpose, a deeper sense of mission, and an unshakable resolve that victory over AIDS, Hepatitis B, TB, and malaria is within reach,” he said.
