Africa-Press – Namibia. Minister of health and social services Esperance Luvindao says Namibia’s antiretroviral (ARV) medicine procurement is fully funded by the government through her ministry’s budget allocation.
It is not affected by the United States’ withdrawal of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding to foreign countries, following an executive order issued by US president Donald Trump on 20 January.
The order was part of a broader effort to re-evaluate and realign United States (US) foreign aid, aligned with Trump’s ‘America first’ agenda.
“I want to clarify the misconception that 99% of our ARV medication is funded by USAID. This is not entirely true. The ARVs are 100% funded by our government, and development partners largely provide support where needed,” Luvindao said in the National Assembly yesterday in response to Popular Democratic Movement president McHenry Venaani’s questions.
The suspension of foreign aid caused widespread concern, as USAID is a key player in global humanitarian and development assistance. Luvindao said the only impact the suspension of funding had on the health sector, was largely on human resources, staff and targeted support services.
She said about 23 healthcare staff members have been retrenched.
Although the minister sympathises with them, she said the ministry is unable to absorb them with its current budget. Luvindao said additional funds would be needed to retain these staff members.
To address the issue, she said the Cabinet has approved setting up an interministerial committee, including the National Planning Commission, to explore alternative solutions.
Luvindao pledged to engage the committee in the coming weeks and to further discuss feasible solutions to prevent the loss of more jobs.
She said the ministry has not conducted an assessment on how women and children have been impacted yet, but assured that such a study would be carried.
There is a need to upscale healthcare services to eliminate dependency, she said.
Luvindao said the ministry has created a roadmap to address the country’s numerous healthcare gaps.
The ministry is further engaging stakeholders on support services and human resources to address the impact of USAID’s funding suspension.
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