Namibia secures nearly 50 mln USD from Global Fund to fight infectious diseases

WINDHOEK, May 17 — Namibia has secured a grant of < close to 50 million U.S. dollars from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a senior official said Friday.
Speaking at the launch of the Global Fund Cycle 7, Kalumbi Shangula, minister of health and social services, said the grant is important in bolstering the country’s healthcare system. “Namibia, which is misclassified as an upper-middle-income country, has long been at the forefront of the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria,” Shangula said. “However, we face formidable challenges in our quest to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services for all our citizens.”
The grant, which will cover three years, will enable Namibia to scale up targeted interventions, including testing, treatment and prevention programs for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. Shangula added that it will also address existing gaps and challenges, particularly in reaching underserved populations.
According to the minister, the impact of the grant will be felt at the community level, where vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations will benefit from improved access to health services and medications. Innovative approaches funded by the grant, such as mobile health units and community-based health services, will bring care directly to those in need, ensuring that no one is left behind.