The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) will invest approximately N.dollars 840 million towards orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) in eight identified HIV prevalence regions of Namibia.
Speaking at the announcement ceremony here on Thursday, PEPFAR Namibia Deputy Principal For USAID, Tamara Cox said the new five-year ‘Reach Namibia’ programme will operate in eight regions, where 80 per cent of the population of OVCs are made vulnerable due to HIV and AIDS.
She noted that the eight regions include Khomas, Oshana, Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Kavango East, Kavango West and Zambezi, where the programme aims to improve access to health and social services, to prevent the beneficiaries from contracting HIV and to stay AIDS free.
Cox noted that ‘Reach Namibia’ is building on the successes of the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) programme, as well as activities that have improved the lives of orphans and vulnerable children, especially those living with HIV through the Namibia Adherence and Retention project.
“Through this new programme, USAID will reach those children and youth who have yet to be reached, including adolescent boys and young men made vulnerable due to HIV,” she said.
Speaking at the same event, Executive Director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe underscored that the ministry is supported through the guidelines and implementation of data obtained through US government agencies and programmes such as DREAMS.
“We have an extensive body of information which guides us on how to implement based on the interpretation of the data we have obtained and this is how we tie interventions to reach maximum impact,” he said.
Nangombe noted that Namibia currently stands at 92-99-94 from its goal of 97-97-97 by 2028, where 97 per cent of the population know their HIV status; 97 per cent of those who are HIV positive are on treatment and 97 per cent of those on treatment have a reduced viral load.
The project will be implemented by Project Hope Namibia and Intrahealth Namibia.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency