IMELADA AMBONDO
Namibia is aiming to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by the year 2030 after launching the Strategic Plan 2025–2030 on Monday.
For it to be a reality, tFor it to be a reality, the plan needs N$16.1 billion from the national budget.
Namibia also launched the Universal Health Coverage Policy yesterday..
World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative, Richard Banda described the two documents as “landmark frameworks” that align Namibia with the United Nations’ Agenda 2030, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals on health, equity, and inclusion.
“These frameworks represent our collective commitment to a healthier, more equitable, and more resilient Namibia. They embody the essence of the Agenda 2030 promise to leave no one behind,” Banda said.
He said universal health coverage and social protection are inseparable in building human resilience.
“Access to essential health services must go hand in hand with financial protection that prevents families from being pushed into poverty due to medical expenses,” Banda said.
Banda said Namibia’s health sector has registered meaningful progress including the UHC service coverage index increasing from 40% in 2000 to 63% by 2024, Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy improving from 47 to 56 years and maternal mortality dropping from 400 to 108 deaths per 100,000 live births.
The country surpassed the UNAIDS 95-95-95 HIV targets, now at 96-98-98.
The UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets are ambitious goals to end the AIDS epidemic by 2025, aiming for 95% of people living with HIV to know their status, 95% of those diagnosed to be on sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 95% of those on ART to have viral suppression.
CABINET APPROVAL
Minister of Health and Social Services Esperance Luvindao said the launch marks a national commitment to strengthening access, quality, and equity in health services.
Luvindao announced that the N$16.1 billion plan to build a stronger health system has already received Cabinet blessings.
The Cabinet-endorsed Health Systems Strengthening Plan (2023–2028) sets out key spending priorities including improving health infrastructure at a cost of N$ 12.3 billion. This includes human resources at a cost of N$ 2.9 billion, buying medical equipment and ambulance services for the cost of N$ 661 million. Others are procurement of pharmaceuticals and clinical supplies at N$100.4 million, and health service delivery at N$ 35.8 million.
“We envision a Namibia where every mother, every child, every patient, regardless of where they live ,receives quality care without delay or discrimination,” Luvindao said.
She said while 76% of Namibians now live within 10km of a health facility, the majority of tertiary services are still located in Windhoek, making access difficult for patients in the northern and eastern regions.
“A cancer patient in Katima Mulilo should not have to travel 1200 kilometers to Windhoek for treatment. That inequity is exactly what our strategy intends to resolve,” she said.
The Minister said Namibia meets the WHO minimum health worker ratio with 3.0 health workers per 1000 population, but rural distribution remains a challenge.
“Let us be clear. This is not the Ministry’s mission alone. Achieving Universal Health Coverage requires all of us, government, partners, communities, and individuals pulling in the same direction,” Luvindao said
The health ministry’s Executive Director Penda Ithindi said the funds will be equally distributed to deal with pressing needs.
“The Fund will complement existing allocations and focus on infrastructure, vulnerable populations, and quality improvement,”he said.
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