Namibia
HIV/AIDS in Namibia
- 13.1% Estimated Prevalence
(Age 15–49) - 6,700 Estimated Deaths (2009)
- 70,000 Estimated Orphans
- 70,498 Reported Number of Adults Receiving ART 1
- 93,000 Estimated Number of Adults Needing ART
SOURCE:
UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, November 2010
1 September 2009
HIV/AIDS Assets and Strategic Focus
Strategic Focus
The CDC HIV/AIDS Namibia office was launched in 2002. Since then, CDC has assisted the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) to develop a comprehensive package of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment activities.
CDC technical assistance has strengthened national efforts to prevent the sexual and bio-medical transmission of HIV and to expand care and treatment services, including a rapid expansion in access to antiretroviral therapy and HIV counseling and testing, as well as to prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission services.
Strengthening Public Health Systems
CDC provides technical assistance to the MOHSS to strengthen epidemiological, surveillance, laboratory, operational research and workforce capacity. CDC also supports MOHSS efforts to integrate primary health care services and promote the idea that HIV/AIDS investments can have an impact in maternity and pediatric, chronic disease, TB and malaria wards.
Strengthening Laboratory Systems and Networks
CDC supports the Namibia Institute of Pathology, the Polytechnic of Namibia, and MOHSS through training for laboratory workers and support for infrastructure projects, including renovations, equipment, and laboratory information systems. A stronger laboratory system has allowed Namibia to expand early infant HIV diagnoses and TB diagnostic services.
Notable Accomplishments
CDC has supported the expansion of prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) services and coverage exceeds 80% of women in need today.
With CDC support, a quality assured ART program delivers treatment to patients nationwide. CDC is supporting the MOHSS’s continued scale-up of ART services to meet the new level of demand, and to promote treatment as a major component in the national HIV prevention strategy. CDC support for comprehensive, evidence-based, prevention activities also includes interventions to reduce multiple concurrent partnerships, address the role of alcohol in HIV transmission, and scale-up male circumcision.
CDC works with the WHO and the MOHSS to develop and implement a standardized clinical approach that integrates basic primary care with the delivery of specialized services for HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted and opportunistic infections, maternal and child health, chronic diseases, TB, and malaria. The approach is designed for resource-constrained settings where a nurse may be the only clinician.
CDC support for the training of lay and community counselors has enhanced the MOHSS’ ability to expand the delivery of HIV prevention messages as well as HIV counseling and testing.
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