WHAT IS THE CURRENT HIV CHALLENGE IN NAMIBIA?

1. Namibia suffers heavily under the impact of HIV/AIDS:
   • Prevalence is estimated at 19.6%
   • The average life expectancy has reduced from 60 years in 1990 to
      52 for males and 55 for females today (UNAIDS, 2006).

2. Currently the majority of people in Namibia does not have access to
    private health care and medical insurance, and therefore depend on
    public health facilities.

3. This applies not only to the unemployed, but also to the formally
    employed workforce of Namibia with a low or average income.

4. An estimated 84% of the Namibian population depend on public
    healthcare.

5. The nation’s HIV prevalence rate places an extremely high burden on
    state facilities.

6. Due to capacity constraints a large number of people that are
    estimated to need Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Treatment (HAART),
    do not receive it.

7. Given the potential capacity in the private sector, it is estimated that
    the burden on public health facilities could be reduced from 84% to
    40%, if the formally employed of Namibia (and their dependents)
    should have access to affordable private healthcare. 
    (PharmAccess 2006)