Niël Terblanché
The minister of health and social services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, has committed to intensifying the country’s efforts to eliminate tuberculosis (TB), describing it as a national priority.
Speaking at the World TB Day commemoration held in Tsandi on Friday, Luvindao said the country must act urgently to end the spread of what remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease.
“In 2024 alone, 8 360 people were diagnosed with drug-susceptible TB and 292 with drug-resistant TB. It is a public health concern that, according to WHO estimates, up to 33% of people with TB remain undiagnosed,” she said.
She also reiterated the need to integrate TB services into all levels of the health system and to scale up the use of technology and decentralised care.
“TB care and treatment services have been decentralised to subnational levels, including Health Posts. This has promoted the decongestion of health facilities and improved accessibility for thousands,” she said.
Luvindao also drew attention to the link between TB and HIV, stressing the importance of integrated care.
“It is pleasing that there is a decline in the HIV positivity rate amongst TB patients, from almost 60% in 2005 to 20% in 2023,” she said.
She added that nearly 100% of TB patients are tested for HIV, and 99% of those testing positive are initiated on antiretroviral treatment.
Luvindao also announced the upcoming second Conference on Innovations in Tuberculosis to be held in Windhoek in May, followed by the International Conference on HIV Treatment, Pathogenesis, and Prevention Research.
“These events would bring together experts to advance global TB and HIV responses,” she said.
She said Namibia is well on its way to eliminating TB by finding, testing and treating everyone with TB in order to prevent further spread and new infections.
“Together, we can end TB. Let us commit, invest, and deliver,” she said.
In line with this year’s international theme, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Richard Banda, called for action across multiple fronts.
“TB takes an enormous human and social toll on those affected, their families and communities. Poverty, inequality, malnutrition, discrimination, and stigma remain the major drivers of the TB epidemic,” he said.
Banda also called for expanded community-led initiatives, strengthened public-private collaboration, and increased domestic funding to ensure uninterrupted access to diagnostics and treatment.
“Breakthroughs in TB treatment must reach the people who need them most, particularly vulnerable groups such as children under five and older adults, who often go undiagnosed,” he said.
