Namibia

In Namibia, leaders are leveraging the country’s relative prosperity to address key health challenges, which include wide income disparities, high HIV prevalence, and a shortage of skilled health care workers. These efforts are providing quality care to a greater number of Namibians and steadily improving health outcomes. Since 2003, I-TECH Namibia has provided technical assistance and training to support this success.

Overview

In Namibia, leaders are leveraging the country’s relative prosperity to address key health challenges, which include wide income disparities, high HIV prevalence, and a shortage of skilled health care workers. These efforts are providing quality care to a greater number of Namibians and steadily improving health outcomes. Since 2003, I-TECH Namibia has provided technical assistance and training to support this success.

Based out of Windhoek, I-TECH Namibia draws on expertise from the University of Washington, the University of California, San Francisco, and Namibian partner organizations to implement a wide-reaching portfolio of health programs. I-TECH and partners work to create robust and sustainable health care systems, train health care providers, and build the health workforce. I-TECH places an emphasis on assessment, monitoring and evaluation, and continuous quality improvement, and prepares programs for
transition to Namibian ownership.

I-TECH Namibia maintains close relationships with key Namibian partners and institutions, including the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the University of Namibia, and the Ministry of Defence/National Defence Force. At the request of the Ministry, I-TECH leads national health training programs and provides technical assistance and implementation for national health policies, strategies, and guidelines.

Working with the military, I-TECH strengthens the Forces’ capacity to provide comprehensive anitretroviral therapy and HIV counseling and testing services to soldiers and their families and communities. At the University, I-TECH and institutional leaders have expanded educational programs and services, allowing Namibia to graduate and retain a greater number of skilled health care workers.

Together, I-TECH Namibia and dedicated local partners are supporting an effective and sustainable health care system—an enduring step toward meeting the country’s health goals and supporting the future of its people.

Program Highlights

Strengthening National Health Systems

I-TECH works with local and international partners to:

Strengthen leadership and management skills among government, ministry, defense, and university leaders.
Build and support electronic systems that help health leaders collect, organize, and use strategic information to support patient care, planning,and strategy.
Promote evidence-based program and strategic planning through assessments, operational research, and continuous quality improvement.

In-Service Training

I-TECH training and training of trainers prepare health care workers to:

Care for, treat, and support people living with HIV, tuberculosis, TB/HIV coinfection, sexually transmitted infections, and opportunistic infections.
Confidently treat and care for children living with HIV and other illnesses.
Prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Encourage all clients to take clear and proven steps to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Provide medical male circumcision as a prevention option for eligible males.

Pre-Service Training

I-TECH works closely with the University of Namibia and the Ministry of Health and Social Services National Health Training Network to:

Plan and pursue goals set by University and Training Network leadership.
Revise and strengthen the curricula used to train key health cadres (nurses, physicians, laboratory professionals, etc.).
Promote teaching excellence among lecturers and tutors.
Strengthen and expand the Master of Public Health program.
Plan, assess, and position programs for transition to University and Ministry ownership.

Supporting the Namibian Ministry of Defence/National Defence Force

Together, I-TECH and defense leaders are building the Forces’ capacity to:

Promote and provide voluntary HIV testing and counseling; HIV prevention, care, and support; and antiretroviral treatment to all members of theforces, their families, and their communities.
Improve laboratory services and testing capacity.
Increase screening, prevention, and treatment for tuberculosis and TB/HIV coinfection.

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