HIV/AIDS: Pepfar injects N$1.6 billion

From 1 October, the United States President&#039;s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) will inject another N$1.6 billion into HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment initiatives in the country.This was announced by Pepfar country representative Cheryl Amoroso yesterday, and comes just a month after the organisation announced N$45 million in financial support for these initiatives.During a stakeholder and media engagement yesterday, Amoroso revealed that over the last 18 years, Pepfar has invested over N$28 billion into efforts to eradicate HIV/AIDS and end AIDS as a public health threat in Namibia by 2030."As Namibia reaches epidemic control, Pepfar is supporting sustainable actions and quality standards for HIV and tuberculosis [TB] prevention, care and treatment in all regions of Namibia. “For 2023, Pepfar will support the HIV/TB response with US$88 million in technical, financial and programmatic assistance, which is over N$1.6 billion in Namibian dollars,” she said.The assistance aims to support HIV prevention and treatment initiatives, including TB prevention and treatment for people living with HIV, while also investing in resilient healthcare systems, she said.This is geared towards reinforcing the Namibian government’s vision for integrated primary healthcare services that sustain the current HIV control gains and are well positioned to address all current and future public health threats, Amoroso said.20th anniversaryPepfar celebrated its 20th anniversary in July and boasts a 94-97-93 in the UNAIDS 95-95-95 target. This means that in Namibia, 94% of people living with HIV know their status, 97% of people who know their status are on treatment, and 93% of people on treatment have achieved viral load suppression."HIV infections have reduced by 65% between 2004 and 2022; new HIV infections among children under the age of one have decreased by over 90% since 2002, and HIV deaths have been reduced by 74% between 2004 and 2022," Amoroso added.Meanwhile, at the stakeholder engagement, US ambassador Randy Berry said the construction of the embassy&#039;s brand-new, state-of-the-art N$300 million building has created over 2 000 jobs for Namibians."The construction of this building is not just an indication of our enduring partnership with Namibia, but also our intent for the long run here. The building includes over 50 indigenous plants and solar panels as part of its design.”

HIV/AIDS: Pepfar injects N$1.6 billion

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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HIV/AIDS: Pepfar injects N$1.6 billion

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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