Key population areas in Namibia, including 273 hotspots and 14 pick-up points, are set to receive over 6.9 million condoms and 2.6 million lubricants to address sexual and reproductive health needs.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) handed over the condoms and lubricants to the country’s Ministry of Health and Social Services to address supply shortages.
Namibia has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, and condoms continue to be a health sector priority for preventing the spread of HIV.
It is understood that the condoms and lubricants are valued at U.S.$275,000 and will be distributed to female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender people, who are vulnerable and disproportionately affected by HIV due to high-risk behaviours, marginalisation, stigma, discrimination, violence, and criminalisation.
The United States Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Namibai, Jessica Long, in a statement, expressed optimism that the items will contribute towards the overall fight against HIV/AIDS in Namibia.
‘U.S. founding father Benjamin Franklin once said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. While there has been notable advancement in the development and deployment of ARV treatment, there is unfortunately still no cure for HIV. This is why prevention is so important’, Long said.
HIV/AIDS is a major public health concern in Africa, with 25.7 million people infected with HIV, data from the Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET) shows.
The ministry noted that the southern African country has a high prevalence, high incidence, generalised and mature HIV epidemic, with the majority of new infections transmitted through unprotected heterosexual sex and mother-to-child transmission.
Photo source: Michael Paskevicius
