WINDHOEK, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Minister of Health and Social Services Kalumbi Shangula announced on Monday that the country's comprehensive program to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV has achieved remarkable success.

As of the end of 2023, 98.5 percent of babies born to HIV-positive mothers in Namibia were found to be HIV-free, marking a significant milestone in the country's efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission.

Shangula made these remarks on the occasion of Namibia's acceptance of an award for its path to elimination at an event held in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.

The program, validated by the World Health Organization, aims to reduce the mother-to-child transmission rate of HIV to less than 2 percent by 2028.

"We are encouraged by the positive outcomes of Namibia's investments in health, particularly in preventing mother-to-child transmission of infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B," Shangula stated.

He attributed these achievements to years of investment in providing free services and consistent actions within the PMTCT program.

Key initiatives include provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling, free testing and treatment for hepatitis B and syphilis, provision of free antiretroviral therapy, and pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV-negative mothers. Additionally, services have been decentralized to rural clinics, outreach points, and community-based ART sites to improve accessibility.

Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted that Namibia has maintained services the program and progressed toward eliminating mother-to-child transmission.

Looking ahead, Shangula emphasized Namibia's commitment to continue strategic partnerships with stakeholders to ensure equitable access to high-quality services. Enditem

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