Africa-Press – Namibia. NAMIBIA is expected to become the next African country to achieve certification for its efforts in eradicating mother-to-child transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), syphilis, and the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).
This was highlighted by Ben Nangombe, the Executive Director (ED) of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, at the recent validation meeting for the Path to Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, Syphilis, and HBV. The goal of the meeting was to assess Namibia’s proposal for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and HBV.
Nangombe explained that a National Validation Committee, with support from the Health Ministry and partners, conducted a pre-validation assessment using standardized tools recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO)-led Global Validation Committee (GVAC) in a consultative approach. This report, he said, was submitted to the Regional Validation Committee through the WHO Country Office on June 30, 2023.
Nangombe disclosed that the National Validation Report highlights Namibia’s achievements, including nearly universal testing coverage for HIV and syphilis in Antenatal Care settings. Furthermore, he said that almost all individuals testing positive for HIV and syphilis receive appropriate treatment. He revealed that program data also indicates favourable outcomes for HBV antenatal testing, antiviral prophylaxis coverage, and HBV birth dose administration to infants.
The ED further revealed that the overall mother-to-child transmission rate of HIV stood at 4.14% in 2022, equivalent to a case rate of 486 per 100,000 live births. He also disclosed that Namibia achieved nearly 100% HIV testing among pregnant women attending routine antenatal care, and the antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage for HIV-positive pregnant women was 96.5% in the same year.
“Syphilis testing among pregnant women was 98% in 2020, 92% in 2021 and 97% in 2022. The percentage of Syphilis positive pregnant women receiving treatment was 75% in 2020, 75.4% in 2021 and 93.6% in 2022. Based on the Syphilis coverage data, Congenital Syphilis case rate estimates per 100,000 live births was 101 in 2020, 252 in 2021 and 323 in 2022. Testing for Hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women was 89% in 2020, 82% in 2021 and 93% in 2022. The coverage of Hepatitis B vaccine birth dose was 86% in 2020, 83 in 2021 and 94% in 2022, while the third dose among children was 93% in 2020, 94% in 2021 and 83% in 2022,” Nangombe added.
Dr Mary Brantuo, the Officer in Charge of the World Health Organization (WHO), revealed that to date, only one high-burden country and one in the African Region have successfully applied for and been validated as being on the Path to Elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV only.
“Namibia is therefore the first high-burden country in the Region to apply for triple elimination validation. This is a significant achievement, and we commend you for this effort,” the WHO Representative said.
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