The Ministry of Health and Social Services is collecting data on how to improve response to HIV/AIDS as part of the new strategic framework for 2023, aimed at intensifying the fight against the pandemic.

HIV/AIDS poses a serious development challenge in Namibia, as it negatively impacts all sectors of the economy.

The National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS's overall goal is to reduce new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths by 75% and move the country towards ending the disease as a public threat by 2030.

The Ministry is visiting all 14 regions for the interim review of the National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS, which addresses inequalities and the issues of stigma and discrimination.

Although Namibia is one of the few countries that is getting closer to meeting the 95, 95, and 95 global fast-track targets, there is still a need to analyze progress through data collection.

"We are also collecting data that will inform our new strategic framework from 2022-2027, so we have made sure that regions engage all stakeholders who are implementing in the region, and we are doing this through our RACOS, which are very important to the response as they play a critical role in coordination in activities implemented in the regions," said Petty Tjaimba, a control health program officer with the Health Ministry.

The strategic plan engagement also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to give input on areas that needed to be considered in the development of the new National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS.