Africa-Press – Namibia. AS access to antiretroviral therapy expands around the country, the number of AIDS-related deaths continues to fall these services becoming increasingly important.
Hence, the ministry of health officially handed over new prefabricated structure to the Community of Omusati staying along the border of Omuvelo Wakasamane.
The handover comes a day after the country marked the commemoration of World AIDS day, with the aim of ending equality and curb the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Minister of Health Kalumbi Shangula stated that Namibia has been providing health care and treatment services for cross-border patients, especially those living along the Angola/Namibia border.
Shangula stated that in the 2nd quarter of 2022/2023 a total number of 211 cross border patients have received health care services at the cross-border points in Omusati Region.
However, Shangula indicated that these cross-border patients face different challenges to access the service made available to them by the healthcare facilities.
“This was particularly noted during the closure of the borders during the COVID-19 lockdown that negatively impacted service delivery to cross-border patients,” he said.
He added that in the past, outreach services provided by the Ministry to communities in this area were conducted either under trees, in tents or in unsuitable make-shift structures.
Hence, in order to mitigate such challenges, Shangula noted that the Directorate of Special Programs, with support from the Global Fund and Centre of Disease Control in Namibia, erect three Comprehensive Community-Based Health Services (CCBHS) prefabricated structures in Omusati Region at Omweelo gwa Kasamane, Mahenene and Okapalelona Border Posts.
Shangula then urged the community of Ouvale Village and surrounding areas, who receive services at Omweelo gwaKasamane Border Point, to please use the infrastructure given to them to the fullest.
He also requested them to avoid vandalizing the property but always ensure it remains in a good state in order to serve the community for more years to come.
CDC country director Brain Baker noted that the transformation of this site took the commitment of many people in order to become government officials both here and in Angola, from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, and from the American government, to set up these border outreach points and to turn them into permanent structures.
Baker stated that it takes the commitment of the community to turn this site into a permanent outreach point.
Baker emphasised that when HIV medicine is taken consistently and correctly, the virus becomes undetectable in the body; when it is undetectable it is untransmittable.
He indicated that each person that comes to access services here on a regular basis are why this site exists.
In particular, those who come to get HIV medication refills, are showing commitment to ending the HIV pandemic in Namibia.
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