The World Health Organization (WHO) has applauded Namibia for being the first high-burden nation globally to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of both HIV and Hepatitis B.
WHO made the disclosure in a statement on Monday. It stated that Namibia has saved 28,000 children from vertical transmission of HIV since 2010.
According to the Organization, Namibia achieved this by making HIV testing and treatment easily accessible to every pregnant woman. This initiative, WHO said, led to a 70 per cent reduction in child-to-mother transmission in the last 20 years.
WHO said in 2022, only 4 per cent of babies born to mothers living with HIV acquired the virus in Namibia.
Similarly, about 80 per cent of infants received a timely birth dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine.
WHO, further, noted that Namibia had integrated all its Primary Health Care Centres (PHC) with adequate antenatal, child, and reproductive health services.
It stated, “A stable domestic finance to national health programmes, offering widely accessible, quality and free of charge clinical services and support.”
Speaking on the development, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, expressed happiness with the feat. She said Namibia’s progress proves how dedicated political leadership and effective implementation of public health priorities can save lives.
“With concerted efforts, we can accelerate progress to reach the goals of ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B, and syphilis, the triple elimination,” she said.
Recall that the East and Southern Africa bear more than half of the world’s HIV burden. And Africa itself accounts for two-thirds of new hepatitis B infections globally.
“Namibia is home to more than 200,000 people living with HIV. With new infections disproportionately affecting females.
The UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Etleva Kadilli, also praised the Namibian Government. She said Namibia achieved the milestone by taking a truly integrated approach to the HIV response from early on.
“The country has not addressed HIV in isolation as a single disease. But as part of a broader health and development agenda, encompassing maternal and child health for all. Namibia has reached mothers and their children, even in the most rural areas,” she noted.
As part of its encouragement, WHO awarded Namibia a “silver tier” status for reducing Hepatitis B. It also awarded the country a “bronze tier” for its progress in combating HIV, based on specified criteria.
source: Premium Times