Namibia committed to eradicating TB

Minister of health and social services Esperance Luvindao says Namibia remains committed to eliminating tuberculosis (TB) as a public health threat.

Luvindao was speaking at the national commemoration of World TB Day at Tsandi last Thursday.

Speaking at her first scheduled public engagement since assuming office, Luvindao reiterated the government’s dedication to combating TB, which continues to be one of the leading infectious disease killers globally.

She highlighted that Namibia remains among the countries with the highest TB burden per capita and called for intensified efforts to curb the disease.

“The theme for this year’s commemoration, ‘Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,’ reminds us that TB elimination is achievable if we take concrete actions today,” she said.

Luvindao emphasised the importance of securing funding, enacting policies, and increasing investment in TB prevention and treatment.

She further noted that Namibia had made progress, achieving an 88% treatment success rate for all TB cases, just shy of the World Health Organisation’s 90% target. However, she raised concerns over TB/HIV co-infections, urging continued integration of services to reduce cases.

“In 2024 alone, 8 360 people were diagnosed with drug-susceptible TB and 292 with drug-resistant TB, and an estimated 33% of TB cases remain undiagnosed,” she said.

To address these challenges, Luvindao announced that TB care and treatment services have been decentralised to grassroot health facilities, improving accessibility.

She also highlighted Namibia’s use of artificial intelligence-powered digital X-ray technology to enhance early diagnosis, urging all attendees to get screened.