Africa-Press – Namibia. United States (US) Embassy chargé d’affaires Brandon Hudspeth has reaffirmed the US’ longstanding support to Namibia through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Hudspeth, joined by Taimi Amaambo, deputy executive director at the Ministry of Health and Social Services, this week toured PEPFAR-supported facilities, including the Katima Mulilo ARV clinic, local laboratories and the Walvis Bay Corridor clinic.
The visit forms part of PEPFAR’s 20th anniversary celebrations in Namibia, highlighting two decades of life-saving HIV and tuberculosis programmes.
Zambezi governor Dorothy Kabula praised the US for its unwavering support.
“This is very wonderful. We are doing very well in terms of our health situation in Namibia. The US has been with Namibia all along… We appreciate what the US has done so far. Keep on doing that. Do not remove these medicines. The partnership should carry on with Namibia,” she added.
Hudspeth stressed the spirit of collaboration behind Namibia’s success story.
“I really do want to emphasise the term partnership because, yes, the US has provided assistance and technical advice, but it is really the Namibian partners, the health ministry, that have made this programme as successful as it has been. We have done PEPFAR in other countries, and they don’t look like what they look like here in Namibia… and it’s because of individuals like you,” he said.
Reflecting on the visit, Hudspeth added, “It’s been an excellent visit, especially in partnership with the health ministry. The most remarkable part was meeting patients directly and seeing how they’ve embraced this programming and are now helping deliver it to the next generation. That is what this has been about”.
Amaambo echoed the importance of joint planning between Namibia and the US government.
“What makes this partnership unique is that whenever we plan our programmes, it’s a co-planning, co-organising activity. It’s not like the US government says, ‘This is what you need to implement.’ Instead, it’s a needs-based assessment we identify together. That is why we now see people who are coaches, living positively with HIV, and helping others to do the same,” she said.
She added that the impact of this cooperation reaches far beyond health facilities.
The visit underscored four key themes: celebrating PEPFAR’s 20-year legacy in Namibia, highlighting sustainability for the future, showcasing the depth of the US-Namibia cooperation, and expressing gratitude to healthcare professionals.
With the US government reaffirming its commitment to HIV and TB response, both parties agree that the partnership continues to transform lives across Namibia, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach communities like Zambezi.
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