THE Minister of Health, Richard Kamwi, is concerned about the high rate of HIV-AIDS and TB (tuberculosis) infections in the country.
Kamwi said the HIV-TB co-infection rate is one of the major challenges facing the health sector in Namibia, besides a lack of funding to build proper TB isolation wards.
Kamwi said the government had approached the private sector to help build disease-specific wards countrywide.
‘Whilst acknowledging the fact that TB is both preventable and curable, it is still a challenge because of the existing multi-drug TB resistance experienced in the country. If the environment is not conducive for TB treatment, it becomes a high risk to other patients and health workers,’ said Kamwi.
Kamwi made the remarks while re-opening the recently renovated Rosh Pinah State Clinic, which was equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, on Friday.
‘I urge all of us to know our HIV status in order to seek the necessary assistance at the clinic. Although Namibia is doing well in reducing HIV infections, our target is to reach zero infections, zero discrimination and deaths,’ said Kamwi.
The renovation of the clinic at a cost of N$6,3 million was jointly funded by the government and Skorpion Zinc Mine.
At Friday’s ceremony, Skorpion Zinc Mine general manager Satish Kumar and Kamwi signed a funding agreement for the renovation of the Katutura State Hospital’s TB ward.
In his message, Kishore Kumar, CEO of Vedanta Zinc International which owns the Skorpion Zinc Mine, said Vendante would continue to support the communities in which it operates.
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