TIRI MASAWI
Namibia has joined Ghana, Zambia and Zimbabwe in rejecting new US conditions for health funding that would give the United States access to sensitive health data and biological samples.
Namibia raised concerns over privacy, national sovereignty and its laws.
The decision means the US will provide about N$720 million to Namibia next year to help fight HIV and AIDS. This will be the start of a gradual reduction in US funding for Namibia’s HIV programmes.
After that, Namibia is expected to fund its own HIV response, while the US will mainly provide technical support.
The decision follows Namibia’s rejection of proposed US demands for access to health data and biological samples.
The US says it has spent more than N$17.6 billion fighting HIV in Namibia since 2003.
Government officials told The Namibian last week that Namibia’s concerns were raised after proposed funding for mainly HIV and tuberculosis programmes, worth more than N$145 million a year, was reviewed by the Attorney General’s Office.
“The Namibian government has made it unequivocally clear that the data-sharing or specimen-sharing agreements in their proposed forms are not in compliance with Namibia’s national laws,” the officials said.
US ambassador John Giordano said Namibia’s progress in fighting HIV was a success story.
“Namibia’s success story is a testament to what can be accomplished when nations work together with determination and shared purpose,” he said.
Giordano said the US had worked with Namibia for more than two decades.
“Today we celebrate their outstanding achievements in turning the tide against HIV/AIDS,” he said.
He said the transition to a new funding model was a celebration of Namibia’s leadership.
“This transition is a celebration of Namibia’s leadership and a model for what is possible,” Giordano said.
He added that the US was proud to have been a partner in Namibia’s HIV response.
The joint statement by the US embassy and the Ministry of International Relations and Trade said Namibia had made major progress in fighting HIV.
It said 96% of people living with HIV know their status, 98% of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 98% of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression.
Namibia and the US said their 22-year partnership was based on a shared vision.
They said Namibia had continued to put significant domestic resources into its HIV response.
The US said this effort had been supported by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Health minister Esperance Luvindao said the progress showed what could be achieved through international cooperation.
“This achievement is a testament to what is possible when national vision is supported by international solidarity,” she said.
Luvindao said cooperation with the US had strengthened Namibia’s ability to manage its own HIV response.
“As we evolve this partnership, we remain committed to a cooperation model that respects Namibia’s sovereignty and the integrity of our national health data,” she said.
Luvindao said the Ministry of Health and Social Services launched the Sustainability Roadmap for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control in November 2024.
She said the roadmap was designed to protect the progress Namibia had made in fighting these diseases.
She said it would also help ensure that Namibia’s health system remains strong and self-sufficient as international donor support shifts towards technical assistance.
GHANA REJECTS US HEALTH DEAL
Ghana has also rejected a proposed US health deal over concerns about sharing sensitive health data, according to Reuters.
The five-year deal would have provided about N$1.75 billion in US health funding. The money would have supported the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and polio.
The US set 24 April 2026 as the deadline for the deal. Ghana decided it could not accept the proposed terms.
ZAMBIA REJECTS US PACKAGE
Zambia has also pushed back against a proposed US health package worth more than N$16 billion.
The agreement was meant to cover HIV, malaria, maternal and child health and disease preparedness.
The deal also included about N$5.4 billion in funding from Zambia.
Health advocates raised concerns about data-sharing requirements and possible links between the health funding and access to Zambia’s critical minerals.
The US has denied that it was making health funding conditional on access to minerals.
The agreement missed its 30 April 2026 deadline without being signed.
ZIMBABWE REJECTS US PACKAGE
Zimbabwe also rejected a proposed US health funding package worth about N$5.9 billion.
The country raised concerns over data sovereignty, national security and what it described as unfair conditions.
The proposed five-year agreement was meant to support HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis programmes.
The main disagreement was over US demands for access to Zimbabwe’s health data and biological samples.
Zimbabwean officials said the proposed deal did not provide enough protection for the country’s data and biological resources.
The government also objected to the lack of guarantees that Zimbabwe would benefit from medical innovations developed from its data and biological samples.
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