Pepfar commits N$1.6bn to Namibia’s HIV fight
The United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar), which celebrated its 20th anniversary in Windhoek yesterday, will avail N$1.6 billion towards Namibia’s HIV prevention, care and treatment programmes.
The money will be availed for this climate change conference (COP) season, US global AIDS coordinator, ambassador Dr John Nkengasong, said.
"Over the last 18 years, Pepfar has invested over N$27 billion and will further invest over N$1.6 billion this season. I use those numbers to assure you that when we discuss sustainability, it is not in the light of us handing over a programme to you, but in the spirit of joint responsibility and joint accountability as we move past 2023," he said.
Celebrating progress
The ambassador commended the work the Namibian health ministry has done in reaching its 90-90-90 goal and said Namibia is well on its way to reaching a 98-98-98 goal by 2030.
In December 2014, the joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) released the '90-90-90' initiative with the goal of 90% of all individuals with HIV knowing their diagnosis, 90% of those diagnosed on treatment, and 90% of those on treatment achieving suppression of the virus.
Namibia is currently aiming for 95-95-95 by 2025.
"Not only do we want to celebrate the progress you've made, but also to learn from your remarkable successes in how you've advanced the programme, and to kick-start the implementation of the country's operational plan," he added.
Always ready
Health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula said government remains ready to tackle HIV/AIDS as it does with any other disease.
"Whoever seeks our service will receive it. The ministry appreciates Pepfar’s continued support for the prevention, care and support for tuberculosis [TB] and HIV/AIDS as well as other health system-strengthening interventions," he said.
He added that since Pepfar’s support started in 2004, Namibia's HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes have grown into “fully-fledged partnerships”.
The money will be availed for this climate change conference (COP) season, US global AIDS coordinator, ambassador Dr John Nkengasong, said.
"Over the last 18 years, Pepfar has invested over N$27 billion and will further invest over N$1.6 billion this season. I use those numbers to assure you that when we discuss sustainability, it is not in the light of us handing over a programme to you, but in the spirit of joint responsibility and joint accountability as we move past 2023," he said.
Celebrating progress
The ambassador commended the work the Namibian health ministry has done in reaching its 90-90-90 goal and said Namibia is well on its way to reaching a 98-98-98 goal by 2030.
In December 2014, the joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) released the '90-90-90' initiative with the goal of 90% of all individuals with HIV knowing their diagnosis, 90% of those diagnosed on treatment, and 90% of those on treatment achieving suppression of the virus.
Namibia is currently aiming for 95-95-95 by 2025.
"Not only do we want to celebrate the progress you've made, but also to learn from your remarkable successes in how you've advanced the programme, and to kick-start the implementation of the country's operational plan," he added.
Always ready
Health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula said government remains ready to tackle HIV/AIDS as it does with any other disease.
"Whoever seeks our service will receive it. The ministry appreciates Pepfar’s continued support for the prevention, care and support for tuberculosis [TB] and HIV/AIDS as well as other health system-strengthening interventions," he said.
He added that since Pepfar’s support started in 2004, Namibia's HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes have grown into “fully-fledged partnerships”.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article