Namibia on track to reach HIV epidemic control mark

WINDHOEK, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Transmission of HIV, including that of mother-to-child in Namibia has reduced, and the country is optimistic it will achieve the under 2 percent of HIV epidemic control stage, an official said on Monday.

Ndapewa Hamunime, the National Chief Medical Officer of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Health Ministry said that HIV transmission rate currently stands at 4 percent.

"In the past, Namibia had a record of almost 100 per cent transmission of HIV to new born babies. Most babies were either born HIV positive, got sick or were dying. But with support from development partners, we implemented extensive health programmes on the prevention, treatment and care of HIV transmission in Namibia, including the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, which has helped reduce HIV infection rate and AIDS related death," she said.

Mechanisms to reduce HIV infections, particularly the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, are progressively aiding Namibia to reach epidemic control stage 2020.

According to Hamunime, so far the Ministry has also observed that many people have been tested for HIV and the number of those on anti-retro viral treatment has increased drastically.

Meanwhile, the country is also implementing programmes and building capacity amongst health experts to reach the 2 percent target HIV epidemic control stage.

In its recent bid to accelerate the provision of quality health care and treatment, the Health Ministry jointly with international development partners are conducting a clinical mentorship workshop for health experts from the country's all 14 regions, underway in Namibia's Capital, Windhoek. Enditem