Key populations who are at high risk of contracting HIV, such as men who have sex with men, sex workers, and transgender individuals, continue to face stigma and discrimination, making it hard for them to access health services.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services, in conjunction with the US government, therefore launched a campaign aimed at reducing the stigma towards the targeted groups.

The campaign, dubbed "Undetectable = Untransmitable," is funded by the Key Population or KP-STAR project.

The campaign encourages the targeted groups to adhere to prescribed antiretroviral treatment to reduce their viral load to an undetectable and safe level.

According to an HIV risk hotspot mapping and key population size report conducted in priority geographical areas, 20% of key populations believe their personal risk of contracting the virus is low, 13% are unaware, and 5% believe it is impossible to contract the virus.

Since 2020, 2700 key populations have tested positive for HIV, with most of them on treatment. Of those, 96% had their viral load suppressed.

About 8, 000 of those who tested negative were put on PREP to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

Namibia has made impressive progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, according to Jeremiah Nghipundjwa, Acting Executive Director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, but he expressed concern about a lack of accurate information on the size of key populations.

In addition, the U=U campaign hopes to reduce discrimination against key populations when accessing HIV health services.

Sharing her story was former sex worker Scholastica |Goagoses, who was diagnosed with HIV in 2007. |Goagoses says her viral load became undetectable last month, because of her strict adherence to treatment.