HIV and TB Overview: Namibia

At a glance

CDC works with partners in Namibia to strengthen the country's public health and clinical systems, deliver quality HIV testing and treatment services, and respond to emerging public health threats.

The Namibian flag has two horizontal stripes: blue on top, green on bottom. In the top left corner, there's a diagonal red stripe outlined in white. Inside the red stripe, there's a golden sun with twelve triangular rays.

Background

The CDC Namibia office was established in 2002, followed by the opening of satellite offices in Zambezi, Kavango East, and Oshana regions. CDC works with the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) and provides support and technical assistance. The combined efforts work to build health system capacity and implement key programs.

Download CDC Namibia's Fact Sheet
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Learn more about CDC's global HIV and TB work in Namibia.

HIV and TB data

HIV/AIDS

Estimated HIV Prevalence (Ages 15-49)

Estimated AIDS Deaths (Age≥15)

Estimated Orphans Due to AIDS

Reported Number Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (Age≥15)

Tuberculosis (TB)

Estimated TB Incidence

TB Patients with Known HIV-Status who are HIV-Positive

TB Treatment Success Rate

Key activities and accomplishments

HIV and tuberculosis (TB) case finding

CDC works with Namibia to develop and implement sustainable, integrated, and high-impact HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs, including:

  • HIV testing services (e.g. index testing).
  • Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT).
  • Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
  • Cervical cancer screening and treatment.

CDC also supports efforts to enhance TB case finding and improve patient outcomes. CDC pursues this by assisting with the implementation of systematic screening for TB disease and testing for TB.

CDC supports the MOHSS in the rollout and scale-up of lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay (LF-LAM) use in patients with HIV. LF-LAM is used to assist in identifying and initiating treatment of persons with active TB. CDC's support covers all regions in Namibia, including support for border health services for people who need HIV and TB care.

Optimized antiretroviral therapy (ART) program and scale-up of differentiated service delivery

CDC supports the care and treatment of PLHIV by introducing new and better-tolerated ART regimens for children and adults with HIV. CDC also supports strengthening differentiated service delivery methods such as:

  • Patient support groups.
  • Outreach points to deliver medicine.
  • Multi-month dispensing.

Doing so increases access to care and reduces the burden on clinics. To aid this, CDC supports MOHSS to strengthen community healthcare workers' roles and establish health posts and outreach points.

CDC is also supporting the MOHSS to establish Chronic Medicine Dispensing smart lockers where patients can collect their medicine. This method is quicker and more convenient for patients and healthcare providers.

CDC focuses on supporting children, adolescents, and young people living with HIV to improve viral load suppression through peer support models. CDC Namibia supports a holistic and sustainable approach to quality management founded on national policies and strategic plans with the host government.

Strengthening health systems

CDC supports MOHSS to strengthen the health system by ensuring an adequate supply of skilled health professionals by hiring:

  • Doctors.
  • Nurses.
  • Clinical mentors.
  • Pharmacists.
  • Data clerks.
  • Additional key staff.

CDC supports the weekly use of the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (Project ECHO) platform as a way of building expertise. Project ECHO is an internet-based digital learning platform that connects remote sites to specialists. By doing so, it empowers healthcare providers with advanced skills to treat patients with complex diagnoses.

CDC also supports the Namibia Institute of Pathology to provide HIV and TB diagnostics and viral load testing. These efforts ensure that adults and children living with HIV stay healthy.

Data to inform decisions

The Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 95-95-95 targets are:

  • 95% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status.
  • 95% of all people with diagnosed HIV will receive sustained ART.
  • 95% of all people receiving ART will have viral suppression.

As of 2023, Namibia achieved 95-97-94 (UNAIDS Spectrum Estimates 2023).

CDC has supported the implementation of numerous national-level surveys, including:

  • The Namibia Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (NAMPHIA).
  • 2 successive surveys to identify specific needs of key populations.
  • A Violence Against Children Survey.
  • A TB prevalence study.

CDC also supports efforts to improve the quality, access, and use of routine data from health information systems. These efforts facilitate MOHSS staff efforts to monitor service gaps and facilitate quality improvement efforts. CDC is also assisting the establishment of a National Emergency Operations Center and National Institute of Public Health.

Resources

Innovations to Sustain HIV Services During COVID-19
CDC's HIV programs adjusted during the pandemic to meet the needs of different populations.
Tracking PEPFAR Impact Toward Global Targets
CDC's leadership role in PHIA surveys including where these surveys have been conducted.
CDC in Namibia
Learn about CDC's work in Namibia.
Namibia | Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

Support for CDC's global HIV and TB efforts.
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CDC's Division of Global HIV & TB activities are implemented as part of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Non-HIV related TB activities are supported by non-PEPFAR funding.

Our success is built on the backbone of science and strong partnerships.

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Content Source:
Global Health Center