Prefabricated containers to improve access to and provision of HIV testing and care services
The United States Ambassador, Thomas Daughton this week hand over prefabricated containers, to improve access to and provision of HIV testing and care services, to the health authorities in the Kavango West Region.
Daughton on 19 September visited the Kavango West Region to the Nkurenkuru Health Centre and a partitioned Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Clinic at Nankudu District Hospital, where the rate of new infections is slightly higher than the national average.
The move by the embassy is in support of Namibia’s efforts to reach UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals and in the process achieve Africa’s first AIDS-free generation.
According to the US Embassy, in early 2017, Namibia’s Health Ministry, and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) team undertook a supervisory visit to the Kavango West Region and observed patient congestion at the ART clinic at Nkurenkuru Health Centre.
“HIV patients were served at the same area as other patients, which made it difficult for patients to go for follow-up visits due to stigma and confidentiality matters. Some healthcare workers did not have suitable accommodation close to the clinics and thus had to travel long distances to work,” the US embassy said in a statement.
It is through this that the U.S. Government through CDC supported the renovations, modular house, and provision of prefabricated containers to provide a comfortable and conducive environment for patients visiting the facilities and for the health professionals to work in.
Meanwhile the embassy said that access to quality healthcare at community level saves patients time and money, as well as increase the likelihood that patients will receive treatment and improve the quality of their lives.
