Namibia has made significant progress in its ongoing battle against tuberculosis (TB), achieving a treatment success rate of 88 percent for all forms of the disease.

Health and Social Services Minister Boast announced that Namibia is just two percent shy of reaching the World Health Organization's target of 90 percent for treatment success.

Dr. Esperance Luvindao's speech, delivered during the World TB Commemoration Day at Tsandi in the Omusati 

Region, emphasized global commitments to ambitious new targets aimed at ending the TB epidemic. The goals include a 90 percent reduction in TB deaths and an 80 percent decrease in TB incidence rates by 2030.

Dr. Luvindao highlighted that the treatment success rate for patients with drug-resistant TB is currently at 74 percent but expressed concern about the prevalence of TB/HIV co-infection cases. 

Individuals with HIV are at significantly higher risk of developing TB, making the integration of HIV and TB services at all health facilities critical.

Furthermore, Dr. Luvindao noted that Namibia ranks among the top 11 countries worldwide with the highest TB incidence rates.

 Last year, 8,360 people were diagnosed with drug-susceptible TB, while 292 were diagnosed with drug-resistant TB.

According to WHO estimates, up to 33 percent of individuals with TB remain undiagnosed, and the country may be missing as many as 67 percent of TB cases nationally.

 WHO Representative in Namibia, Dr. Richard Banda, affirmed the organization's commitment to supporting Namibia through strategic guidance, technical assistance, and enhanced surveillance systems.

Dr. Banda stressed the importance of collaboration across sectors to improve TB detection and treatment efforts. Initiatives involving healthcare providers, community organizations, and government entities are essential to address diagnostic gaps and ensure that no one is left without the necessary care.