Country Highlights
According to UNAIDS, Namibia has made very good progress in terms of access to antiretroviral treatment, with significant achievements in rolling out of ARV treatment and preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, partly due to the decentralization of the health system in Namibia. However, despite considerable investment in HIV prevention, incidence remains high. With an adult prevalence rate of 15.3%, has been significantly impacted by the epidemic.
Namibia’s response to HIV/AIDS is guided by five-year strategic frameworks. The current framework runs from 2004 to 2009. SCMS supports the government of Namibia’s efforts by helping to strengthen and enhance national supply chains for HIV/AIDS commodities – and support building new ones where needed – in order to ensure long-term sustainability of distribution systems.
Key objectives in Namibia are to:
- Strengthen the supply chain systems for HIV/AIDS commodities
- Enhance existing systems to promote information sharing
- Improve procurement management systems
Value of commodities delivered as of September 2008: More than $1.2 million.
Progress to date:
Warehousing of HIV/AIDs medicines: In order to alleviate the storage constraints imposed by the expanding HIV/AIDS program, SCMS reviewed various options for reorganizing the layout of the Central Medical Stores (CMS) to provide more space for HIV/AIDS commodities. SCMS has supported installation of racking and provision of equipment which has more than doubled the storage and pallet spaces in CMS’ warehouse for antiretroviral drugs.
Laboratory Infrastructure: SCMS reviewed the commodity management systems of the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) to help strengthen NIP’s capacity to support scale-up of treatment programs. To improve the agency’s central storage capacity and infrastructure, SCMS helped NIP with a plan for reorganization and redesign of the layout of the central medical warehouse. Initial reorganization freed up 30 percent of usable space. SCMS has also initiated a process of development of a quality management system for the NIP stores; it reviewed the use of Meditech® for inventory management and proposed redesign and development of SOPs for operations.
Distribution of HIV test kits: After completing an initial review of the HIV rapid test kit distribution system with the USAID Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) partner, SCMS began to supply rapid test kits and medical consumables for the VCT programs in Namibia. SCMS conducted a design workshop for VCT logistics system and trained staff of all VCT centers in the new logistics systems. The participants developed a direct delivery system for rapid test kits and medical consumables to the 17 VCT Partner testing sites and also developed SOPs and forms for implementation of the new logistics systems. To help increase testing for HIV, SCMS has supplied over 30,000 rapid HIV tests and related medical consumables to VCT sites valued at approximately $558,700.
Palliative Care: Basic Health Care and Support: In April and May 2008, SCMS conducted an assessment of HBC Kit Supply Chain Management. SCMS has facilitated the distribution of over 6,000 home based care kits to designated sites nationwide, valued at approximately $23,000. Also, SCMS participated in a national workshop to develop community and home-based care guidelines, standards and training curriculum.
Strategic Information: SCMS is developing and implementing a Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) capable of monitoring national pipelines of ARVs, Test Kits, Laboratory Supplies and other HIV/AIDS related commodities.
