The level of engagement for the Wellness Service moved up a notch as the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) was chosen to represent Civil Society Organisations in Namibia at a recent PEPFAR Country Operational Plan (COP) review held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

As an important member responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa, WBCG’s Wellness Service utilised the platform to interact with the U.S. Government through its U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

The meeting saw Namibia and nine other African countries, present their respective Country Operational Plans for 2016 to Ambassador Deborah Birx, Coordinator of the United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS and U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy.

The COP informs PEPFAR on HIV/AIDS activities in Namibia parallel to the operational plans of our Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS). Impressed with the presentation by the Namibian delegation, Ambassador Birx endorsed the document. To ensure an increase in the uptake of HIV testing services for our mobile populations in the country, new opportunities for collaboration with organisations that are involved in the PEPFAR programme were also discussed.

The successful partnership with USAID through the Society for Family Health (SFH), has allowed WBCG to work on various activities of National and Regional stature. This has seen the US Government pledge its support to the MoHSS and WBCG to ensure that the implementation of programmes continues. The next level of partnership was the inclusion at the meeting to determine the USAID’s programme in Namibia for 2016. This unique opportunity afforded the US Government direct insight into WBCG programme, especially the HIV/AIDS and Wellness issues that are affecting our transport industry.

The objective is for Namibia to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals. This relates to 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression by the end of 2017. The focus areas for the PEPFAR project are Zambezi, Ohangwena and Khomas Regions, which coincide with areas the WBCG’s HIV/AIDS and Wellness activities occur in.

In line with the new PEPFAR strategy, which is to target more men with HIV testing services, the WBCG is strategically positioned to provide a significant contribution in terms of reaching the required deliverables. The WBCG provides a unique approach in terms of employee wellness programmes in Namibia because we deploy a mixed model approach that consists of both static and mobile clinics. Our open and transparent partnerships with other CSOs also ensure effective collaborations and partnerships to implement evidence-based health programmes.

The Namibian delegation also consisted of officials from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, a representative from Outright Namibia and PEPFAR representatives stationed in Namibia.