Namibia Employs 1,600 Community Health Workers, Prime Minister Announces in Lusaka

LUSAKA - Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila revealed that the Namibian government currently employs 1,600 Community Health Workers (CHWs). Speaking at the third international conference on public health in Africa in Lusaka, Zambia, she stated that the government-funded CHW Programme, initiated in 2012, aligns with the African Union's goal of deploying two million CHWs across the continent. According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), this program has contributed significantly to Namibia achieving the UNAIDS 92-98-94 target, drastically reducing HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality. She also mentioned that 85% of healthcare services in Namibia are domestically financed. Additionally, the Prime Minister highlighted Namibia's success in integrating COVID-19 vaccines into its routine vaccination program and underscored the country's commitment to building robust and sustainable health systems, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goal 3 and the African Union Agenda 2063. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also discussed the implementation of the One Health Approach in Namibia, which involves collaboration across human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors. This approach is being formalized through the development of a National One Health Strategy, aiming to enhance public health emergency preparedness and response.