Hertta-Maria Amutenja
A court ruling in the United States of America has secured the continued flow of essential funding for key health programs in Namibia.
The executive director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe, confirmed the good news in an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Thursday.
“Every day, basically, there is a new development. The latest development, in essence, says that funding for methods related to the provision of emergency assistance and services for the treatment of co-infections like TB will continue,” said Nangombe.
A temporary restraining order issued on 7 February by a U.S. federal judge blocks a freeze on USAID funding.
This ruling mandates the reinstatement of over 2 200 USAID workers, ensuring that global health programs, including HIV treatment and TB services, remain operational.
The cases are being heard in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, with the respondents and defendants including USAID, the Trump administration, and other associated federal agencies.
These legal actions are part of broader challenges to the administration’s attempts to cut USAID funding, which has led to disruptions in various programs, including those related to HIV prevention and emergency relief.
Further legal motions were filed to address non-compliance with the court order, raising concerns about the continuity of aid programs worldwide.
However, NGOs funded by USAID, including Project Hope Namibia and the Society for Family Health (SFH), have faced operational disruptions due to a 90-day Stop Work Order issued by the U.S. government as part of a broader foreign aid reevaluation.
The order, issued on January 27, instructed all implementing partners to halt work under their respective funding agreements, affecting programs related to HIV prevention, LGBTQ support, and climate change initiatives. Workers at these NGOs have been instructed to cease operations.
Employees have been instructed to cease program-related work. Some employees remain uncertain about salary payments, with concerns about potential cuts to allowances.
The Windhoek Observer understands that Project Hope Namibia will hold an information-sharing session next week regarding the Stop Work Order, where further details on the situation and its impact are expected to be discussed.
IntraHealth Namibia, another organisation involved in HIV prevention, declined to comment on the situation, with spokesperson Selma Shiwaya stating that they had no statement at this time.
The U.S. government has indicated that exemptions for life-saving interventions, such as HIV treatment, may be granted.
It is still uncertain how many organisations will be approved for such exemptions.
