By: Mathias Hangala and Peneyambeko Jonas
Health and Social Services Minister Esperance Luvindao has called on the Namibian nation to rise and commit to ending the spread of AIDS by 2030.
She delivered this message during the World AIDS Day commemoration held on Monday in Otjiwarongo, Otjozondjupa Region.
This year’s event was hosted under the theme ‘Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.’
“We have the tools. We have the science. We have the resilience. Hence, we must act, and act now to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. To our health workers, community leaders, and civil society, your dedication has brought us this far on the journey. Together, let us move forward with boldness. Let us embrace innovation. Let us end AIDS by 2030,” she stated.
Luvindao described World AIDS Day as a moment of reflection, “a heartbeat in time” when the nation honours the lives lost to the epidemic and stands in solidarity with families still carrying the pain of loss.
“We reaffirm our vow to protect every Namibian from HIV. Before we look to the future, we must pay homage to the past. I invite you all to pause and remember those we have lost, and salute those living bravely with HIV,” she said.
The minister highlighted Namibia’s progress towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, noting that the country has surpassed expectations where 96% of people living with HIV know their status, 98% of those who know their status are on treatment, and 98% of those on treatment are virally suppressed.
She described this achievement as a national victory, crediting health workers, partners, and citizens who chose to get tested.
Looking ahead, Luvindao emphasised the need to embrace scientific innovation, particularly new HIV prevention and treatment tools such as Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable administered only twice a year.
“This drug is a game-changer with the potential to break barriers in adherence and prevention. However, innovation comes at a high price. Currently, the cost of Lenacapavir is prohibitive for immediate rollout in the public sector,” she indicated.
She added that the government is already pursuing regulatory approval to allow the drug into the Namibian market.
“We will advocate globally and negotiate tirelessly to bring down the price so that vulnerable and young populations can eventually access it in public health facilities. No one should be denied a future because of their income,” she stressed.
Also addressing those in attendance, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Hopolang Phororo, noted that an estimated 40.8 million people are living with HIV globally. Of these, 30 million are on treatment, while 9.2 million still lack access to life-saving medication.
“In 2024 alone, 1.3 million new HIV infections were recorded. These figures underscore a critical reality that AIDS is not over,” she stated.
Phororo highlighted that Namibia remains home to 220,000 people living with HIV, with 4,500 new infections recorded last year, 24% of which occurred among young people aged 15 to 24. However, she acknowledged significant progress, sharing that infection rates have dropped from 61% to 24% since 2010, with AIDS-related deaths also declining.
At the same event, Sandie Tjaronda, executive director of the Namibia Network of AIDS Service Organisations (NANASO), said recent disruptions in the health system have affected both service delivery and client confidence.
“Clients began questioning whether they could rely on the system and whether pharmaceuticals and health commodities would remain available,” said Tjoronda while expressing concern about the shrinking civic space, which negatively affects citizens’ ability to exercise their civic rights.
Tjaronda further noted that the Global AIDS Strategy anticipates that the final phase towards ending the spread of AIDS by 2030 will rely heavily on community-led interventions.
Meanwhile, Jeremia Shou Shetunyenga, a 51-year-old resident of Onesi in the Omusati Region, has been living with HIV since 1998. He has been open about his status since 2002, a decision he describes as “life-changing not only for myself, but for many others who needed hope.”
In a recent interview with Eagle FM, Shetunyenga reflected on his journey from being a classroom teacher to becoming one of Namibia’s most influential advocates for HIV awareness and community empowerment.
Shetunyenga began his professional career as a teacher in 1997, a position he held until 2002. After publicly disclosing his HIV status, he transitioned to full-time advocacy, collaborating with organisations such as Yelula UKHAI, Lironga Eparu, and Positive Vibes. Eventually, he founded the Tonata PLHIV Network, a platform dedicated to representing people living with HIV across the country.
Throughout his experiences, Shetunyenga has underscored the significance of openness, adherence to treatment, and the necessity for robust support systems, particularly for couples facing challenging or discordant relationships, something he has navigated himself.
“Living openly with HIV gave me a voice. It allowed me to demonstrate to others that HIV is not the end of life. It is something we can manage, overcome, and use as a stepping stone to uplift others,” he stated.
As Namibia joined the global community in observing World AIDS Day, Shetunyenga’s testimony serves as a reminder of the headway made, the ongoing challenges, and the need to combat stigma and discrimination.
He concluded with a call to action, encouraging the public to get tested regularly, support those affected, and continue raising awareness within their communities.
