By:Fransina Nghidengwa

Namibia has registered over 96,000 cases of sexually transmitted infections of different types during the past five years, the Health Ministry has reported.
The Health Ministry on Thursday launched the third edition of the national guidelines for the management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The Ministry said the revised treatment guideline on STIs is built on a foundation of scientific evidence, global best practice, and the collective expertise of dedicated healthcare professionals.

Although Namibia has made commendable progress in reducing HIV infections in different population groups and demographics, the Minister of Health and Social Services Kalumbi Shangula said available statistics indicate that there has been an upward trend in sexually transmitted infections in Namibia.
According to spectrum data, Namibia now stands at 94- 99-92 on the UNAIDS 95-95-95 cascade. The country has set ambitious targets to reach 97-97-97 on the cascade by 2028.

“These successes demonstrate what is possible when we work together to tackle challenges. I believe that, through deliberate interventions and programmes, it is possible to successfully reduce the STI burden in our country,” Shangula said.

The Minister further pointed out that STIs can affect individuals from all walks of life, irrespective of gender or social status.
The consequences of untreated or undiagnosed sexually transmitted infections are known to be devastating, leading to severe health complications such as chronic diseases, neurological and cardiovascular disease, different types of cancers, infertility, premature birth, and stillbirths, as well as an increased risk of HIV transmission.

According to HIV/AIDS actvisit Benhard Kamatoto, the reason why there is an increase numbers of sexual transmitted infections is because there is a shortage of condoms in the country.
“And the cause of this is “since coronavirus come in Namibia, people started relaxing. We don’t talk about HIV anymore. Moreover, it’s because there are no campaigns anymore regarding awareness about HIV in the community,” he told The Villager.

Another activist, Sandie Tjaronda was of the view that the increase in STIs was a sign that people are not using protection that is available to them.
“It might be that the message of prevention is lost, because we tend to lean a lot on treatment and we lose out on prevention. For couples of months last year, we did not have commodities, we did not have condoms available in the country,” he said.

He added, however that the youth require unique services but that the country lacks the money to tackle their needs to be able to reach them.

Health Minister, meanwhile, urged all sexually active people to take the necessary precautions and protect themselves from such infections.

“Therefore, I urge the sexually active members of society to make the conscious and deliberate choice to practise safer sex. This is what should be the norm, not the exception,” he said.

He added that government will continue to provide tools, such as condoms, for people to protect themselves.

“For those who get infected, we will do everything to detect, diagnose and treat to restore health. Apart from congenital conditions or sexual violations, many of the cases of sexually transmitted infections occur because of the decisions that individuals make.

“It is for this reason that we, as the Ministry, together with our partners and the people of Namibia, should spare no efforts to put in place measures that will help us reduce sexually transmitted infections in our communities,” he said.

The revised treatment guideline on STIs further builds on key political commitments made by member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to end Aids and the epidemics of viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections by 2030.

The treatment guideline is also aligned with the UNAIDS Global Aids Strategy 2021–2026, which aims to reduce the inequalities that drive the Aids epidemic and prioritise people who are not yet accessing life-saving HIV services.
The guideline also emphasises the importance of early detection, comprehensive treatment, and robust prevention strategies by promoting awareness, education, and accessibility to testing and treatment services.
“We aim to empower individuals to take control of their sexual health and make informed decisions,” Shangula expanded.
He also mentioned that the guideline further aims to address the social and cultural aspects that contribute to the spread of sexually transmitted infections and work together to combat stigma, discrimination, and misconceptions surrounding sexual health, ensuring that their interventions are inclusive, respectful, and sensitive to the needs of all Namibians.
Sexually transmitted infections are known to be characterised by a lot of secrecy. When persons become infected, they tend to shy away from disclosing the infection. They even hesitate or refuse to visit health facilities. As a result, the infection festers and the person becomes sicker and sicker.
In some cases, the person only presents to a health facility when they can no longer hide, tolerate or endure the illness.
In many of these cases, a lot of damage would have been done by then. Some of the damage would have become difficult to treat, or the damage would have become irreversible.
“Those who suspect infection or exposure to infection must visit health facilities as early as possible so that they can be tested and treated. This will ensure the best possible health outcomes.
“The health workers, on the other hand, must be compassionate and non-judgmental, and should not be a barrier to positive health-seeking behaviour,” Shangula stressed.