Two young girls play on a swing in Namibia.
The World Health Organization has declared Namibia the first high-burden country in Africa and the first in the world to reach this important milestone on the path to eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and hepatitis B.
Eastern and Southern Africa accounts for more than half of the world's HIV infections, and two-thirds of the world's new hepatitis B infections are from Africa. There are more than 200,000 people living with HIV in Namibia, and new infections disproportionately affect women.
Make progress
Since 2010, 2.5 million children worldwide, including 28,000 in Namibia, have avoided mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Over the past 20 years, HIV testing for pregnant women has become almost universal, and access to treatment has reduced the probability of mother-to-child transmission by 70%.
In 2022, only 4% of babies born to HIV-infected mothers were infected with the virus. Nearly 80% of babies are vaccinated against hepatitis B at birth, which is one of the key indicators of success on the road to hepatitis B elimination.
Namibia has integrated primary health care with antenatal, child health and sexual and reproductive health services. The Government is committed to providing stable domestic funding for the national health programme and to providing a wide range of high-quality, free clinical services and support.
Based on the specified criteria, WHO has assessed Namibia as achieving "Silver" progress in reducing hepatitis B and "Bronze" in HIV. Namibia's achievement follows a concerted strategy to curb the spread of hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis.
WHO's Triple Infection Elimination Initiative aims to safeguard mother-to-child health and end mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, recognizing the right of every child to be free from these viruses at birth. And all of these diseases are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. The initiative encourages countries to integrate services and adopt a people-centred approach to improving the health of mothers and children.
Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said this was a landmark achievement for Namibia, demonstrating strong political leadership and the possibility of effective implementation of public health priorities to save lives. By working together, we can accelerate progress towards the three goals of ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis.
A validation process, led by WHO and carried out in collaboration with UNICEF, UNAIDS and UNFPA, evaluates data and standardizes milestones for disease elimination. Among other factors, when a country vaccinates 50% or more of its newborns against hepatitis B, WHO will certify the country as reaching the Silver level. Countries that reduce the rate of vertical mother-to-child transmission of HIV to less than 5% will receive Bronze certification.
Set an example
Anne Githuku-Shongwe, UNAIDS Regional Director for South-East Africa, said that in many countries, children are not treated in the same way as mothers and other adults, and that is a disappointment. Namibia had been battling that injustice, and she was proud of the tremendous efforts that the country had made to ensure that every child could be cared for. She said Namibia had set an example for the entire region.
Etleva Kadilli, UNICEF's Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, said Namibia had achieved this milestone by taking a truly integrated approach to HIV early on. Rather than treating HIV as a single disease, the country is addressing it as part of a broader health and development agenda that encompasses maternal and child health for all. Namibia has cared for mothers and their children, including those in the most remote areas.
Namibia launched its first National Elimination Strategy in 2014, followed by a National Roadmap for the Elimination of HIV and Syphilis in 2020, followed by the addition of viral hepatitis B. In line with WHO guidance, the country has established a multisectoral national validation committee to eliminate the three diseases.
