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Namibia's HIV population to reach 227,000 by early 2017

Xinhua, November 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Namibian health official has said the country's HIV-infected population is likely to reach 227,000 by March, 2017.

Jeremiah Nghipundjwa, a regional health director, made the remarks at a meeting discussing the upcoming AIDS conference in Swakopmund.

The three-day conference scheduled for Nov. 28 is expected to address issues pertaining to sharing best practices in responding to crises as well as awareness in addition to developing partnerships.

Nghipundjwa said Namibia's highest infection rates stood between 18 percent in 2012 and 17 percent in 2014.

By 2014, he said, more than 90 percent of HIV-positive people in the country were on retroviral therapy, while 96 percent of babies born to positive mothers were free of the disease largely thanks to the prevention measures.

"We are trusting that this drop will continue, and we believe the strategies used in combating HIV/AIDS have had a positive impact," he said.

The conference, Nghipundjwa said, will provide opportunities to reduce further infections and achieve the country HIV-free nation goal by 2030.

"With everybody's involvement, an HIV-free generation is possible," he said. Endit