Ongwediva --- On 02 August 2016, U.S. Ambassador Thomas Daughton and Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services Juliet Kavetuna welcomed more than 100 new health care workers hired through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) who will soon be deployed to health facilities in seven districts (Onandjokwe, Omuthiya, Tsumeb, Oshikuku, Andara, Nyangana, Engela) and three sites at Grootfontein.

These doctors, nurses, pharmacists, counselors and data clerks join a contingent of more than 400 health care professionals funded by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to help fight HIV, especially in rural areas.

“I believe Namibia will achieve an AIDS-free generation thanks to determined and dedicated people like you, but that achievement will come because we work together – hand in hand – Namibians and Americans,” said U.S. Ambassador Daughton to the newly recruited staff.

Deputy Health Minister Kavetuna thanked the United States government for its continued funding. “The Government of the Republic of Namibia and its people are extremely grateful for this support, which has gone a long way in building healthy communities,” she highlighted.

The U.S. Ambassador also handed over four brand-new 4x4 vehicles to be used in health districts at Kavango-East, Omuthiya, Onandjokwe and Tsumeb.

The deployment of new health care workers follows the signing of an Acceleration Plan between the United States and Namibia in December 2015, in which the U.S. government, through PEPFAR, commits itself to provide an additional US$34 million in support of the Ministry of Health and Social Sciences’ fight against HIV/AIDS. This is above and beyond the regular annual PEPFAR contributions to the Namibian health sector, amounting to over US$1.1 billion since 2004.

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