Health Minister says AIDS stats stabilising

NAMIBIA’S HIV-AIDS statistics appear to provide a glimmer of hope. Health Minister Richard Kamwi revealed yesterday that the rate of prevalence at testing sites had dropped to 17 per cent.

Kamwi told the visiting former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda that the prevalence rate had dropped at these sites, but that the statistics for national hospitals were still awaited. The last figures released with the 2004 survey of pregnant women at ante-natal clinics indicated that the prevalence rate in the country had dropped from 22 per cent in 2002 to 19,7 per cent.The 2004 data was garnered from tests conducted on 4 370 pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics for the first time.Kamwi said some 55 000 pregnant women had gone through the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme by December 2005, while 16 190 patients were receiving anti-retroviral treatment at the moment.”That is well ahead of the targets set by the United Nations because more than 16 per cent of those needing treatment do receive it,” he said.He said the achievements were a collective effort and the challenges remained with the ever-increasing number of orphans and child-headed households in the country.Kaunda and his delegation briefed health staff on the work of the Kenneth Kaunda Foundation.Earlier, he had lunch with President Hifikepunye Pohamba, First President Sam Nujoma and First Prime Minister Hage Geingob.The last figures released with the 2004 survey of pregnant women at ante-natal clinics indicated that the prevalence rate in the country had dropped from 22 per cent in 2002 to 19,7 per cent.The 2004 data was garnered from tests conducted on 4 370 pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics for the first time. Kamwi said some 55 000 pregnant women had gone through the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programme by December 2005, while 16 190 patients were receiving anti-retroviral treatment at the moment.”That is well ahead of the targets set by the United Nations because more than 16 per cent of those needing treatment do receive it,” he said.He said the achievements were a collective effort and the challenges remained with the ever-increasing number of orphans and child-headed households in the country.Kaunda and his delegation briefed health staff on the work of the Kenneth Kaunda Foundation.Earlier, he had lunch with President Hifikepunye Pohamba, First President Sam Nujoma and First Prime Minister Hage Geingob.