Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA joined the global community in commemorating World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, with health officials urging the public to prioritise early screening and treatment, as the country continues to face a high burden of the disease.
This year’s national commemoration is being held under the theme “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver,” highlighting the need for collective action to eliminate the disease.
According to Aina Lukas, HIV Care and Treatment Manager at IntraHealth Namibia (IHN), tuberculosis remains one of the country’s major public health challenges, with more than 3,000 cases recorded annually. She explained that TB is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Despite being preventable and curable, TB continues to impact individuals, families, and communities, particularly when diagnosis and treatment are delayed.
Lukas added that Namibia has made progress in improving treatment success rates and expanding access to TB services across the country, including at community level through the work of community health workers who assist with screening and sample collection.
She further highlighted the strong link between TB and HIV, explaining that individuals living with HIV are more vulnerable to TB due to weakened immune systems. As a result, patients diagnosed with HIV are routinely screened for TB, while those with TB symptoms are also encouraged to test for HIV to ensure appropriate treatment.
IntraHealth Namibia works closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Services to support national efforts in combating both TB and HIV, including prevention, testing, treatment, and community awareness.
Health officials are urging the public not to ignore symptoms such as persistent cough, fever, weight loss, and night sweats, and to seek medical attention promptly.
“TB is preventable and curable. The most important thing is early testing and completing treatment,” Lukas said, encouraging Namibians to get screened for TB and tested for HIV.
Ending TB requires collective commitment and increased awareness, with early detection and adherence to treatment seen as key to reducing the spread of the disease.
PICTURED: HIV Care and Treatment Manager at IntraHealth Namibia (IHN), Aina Lukas. Photo: IHN
