Access to health services in Namibia for People Living with HIV/AIDS.

2008-09-11

A new report was launched last week to highlight new research by the Bicycle Empowerment Network in Namibia and partners to understand the impact of transport on access to health services for people living with HIV/AIDS in Namibia.

Funded by Yelula/U-Khai, the National Paralegal Association, and with the technical support of GEO Business Solutions, the assessment took place in 2 regions:
- Omusati, a communcal region on the northern border with Angola. One of the most populated regions in the country with more than 12 people per square km.
- Karas, the Southernmost region with less than 1 person per square km and composed mainly of commercial farms.

This was the first Namibian initiative to focus on the impact of transport on health service access and the assessment raised a number of issues at different levels. Although there is a wide awareness in Namibia that lack of transport is a barrier to health care access, transport itself has remained a peripheral issue. Since transport limitations have not been properly qualified or quantified, addressing them has not been a priority on the national agenda.

The research shows that a lack of appropriate and affordable transport is hindering individual access to health facilities . Transport costs combined with medical fees represent a burden on people living with HIV/AIDs (PLWHA), particularly women who spend between N$20 and N$40 each month to collect medications, directly affecting treatment adherence. Participants in the research considered 5km a reasonable distance to access treatment yet 77% live 20km or more from their nearest health facility. Rural dweller pay up to N$400 to reach a hospital in an emergency.

Transport plays an important yet underestimated role in the drug distribution system. The study found that initiatives to promote effective decentralisation such as mobile clinics and improved mobility for healthcare community volunteers remain ad hoc and uncoordinated.

Recommendations from the report focus on the need to involve stakeholders at all levels of the supply and demand chain. Cooperation between health and transport policy-makers, local communities, health workers an PLWHA are crucial in order to develop a holistic approach to access to health services.

Following the recent publication of this report, and a positive response by the Namibian Media, BEN Namibia are now pursuing an advocacy programme focused on emergency care and decentralisation of drug distribution.

Download the full report:
Click here - pdf 924kb

More information please contact:
Clarisse Cunha
BEN Namibia
Email: clarisse@benbikes.org.za
Web: www.benbikes.org.za/namibia