First Lady Sustjie Mbumba hosted a high-level Roundtable Discussion on inequalities, HIV, TB, Malaria, and Pandemics at State House on Friday.

During the opening of the discussion, Madame Mbumba encouraged individuals and organisations to speak out against inequality or injustice.

High HIV infection and transmission in the Kavango East Region has prompted the new health director in the region to urge the community to offer love and support to the affected and infected.

HIV prevalence among pregnant women has declined from 22% in 2002 to 14% last year.

This is according to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) Executive Director, who welcomed the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, on a visit to the Katutura State Hospital.

The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has committed N$1.6 billion for the year 2023.

PEPFAR has invested over N$27 billion in Namibia over the past 18 years, says the US Global Aids Coordinator, Ambassador John Nkengasong.

The health of almost 12,000 children living with HIV across Namibia has rapidly improved due to dolutegravir medication.

The child version of the HIV drug was introduced in July 2021 by the Ministry of Health and Social Services in partnership with the U.S. government.

The Health Control Programme Officer in the Directorate of Special Programmes in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Nicholus Mutenda, says Namibia is doing well in terms of HIV Strategic response.

Young people and adolescents with HIV are urged to suppress their viral load by adhering to treatment while those who do not know their status should start to realise the benefits of knowing where they stand. 

The Ministry of Health and Social Services says the rise in pregnancy and early marriage as well as HIV infections among adolescent girls is a cause for concern.

The rate of teenage pregnancies nationally stands at 14.95%, translating to more than 15 thousand pregnancies per year. 

Despite Namibia having made considerable efforts to control the spread of HIV, the low decrease in new infection rates and deaths associated with an advanced pandemic is still a major concern.

Namibia has a widespread HIV epidemic, with an estimated prevalence of 12% in adults. 

The Omaheke Region to date has 3800 HIV-positive people. 

Speaking during a Regional Aids Coordinating Committee workshop at Gobabis, the Regional HIV Clinical Mentor, Dr Francois Lumbala, says through coordination and stakeholders' engagement, the region can greatly reduce HIV/AIDS among communities.