The use of antiretrovirals (ARVs) in combination for treating patients with HIV has greatly ameliorated morbidity and mortality by reducing viral load to undetectable levels and boosting the body’s immunity. However serious adverse reactions causing long- or short-term effects have been associated with ARV treatment. These reactions have caused major concerns internationally, potentially threatening patient … Read more
In the last five years, SIAPS has provided technical assistance to the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC) to strengthen its capacity for registration and quality testing by training technical staff in medicines dossier evaluation, developing guidelines for conducting the routine PMS of quality of medicines, and collecting medicine samples at selected ART and TB treatment sites … Read more
The goal of SIAPS in Namibia was to improve the quality and safety of pharmaceutical services to achieve sustained HIV epidemic control. Since 2012, SIAPS focused on interventions that increased the availability of quality antiretrovirals (ARVs), other essential medicines, and services to sustain more than 80% ART coverage of patients in need. SIAPS activities also … Read more
Namibia has a decentralized public health system with 14 administrative regions. It is challenged by a dual burden of HIV and AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) as well as by the persistent shortage of pharmaceutical personnel. Well-trained pharmacist assistants (PA) are central to ensuring that the correct medicines are available in sufficient quantities as well as … Read more
SIAPS and its predecessor projects—Strengthening Pharmaceutical Systems (SPS) and Rational Pharmaceutical Management (RPM) Plus—have worked extensively to introduce and support tools that capture dispensing and supply chain data from public health facilities. SIAPS supports the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) to conduct periodic analyses of antiretroviral therapy (ART) data by using available data … Read more
This consultancy and assessment is the follow up to the original 2009 SPS report, which described the structure and function of the NMRC, identified challenges in its operations, and provided recommendations for improvements in the NMRC’s processes. In this consultancy, several substantive recommendations are made to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the NMRC, particularly in … Read more
Namibia faces a shortage of pharmaceutical personnel. The increased burden that HIV and AIDS has placed on national health systems in general has made this burden even more severe. USAID-funded SIAPS conducted a preliminary assessment to evaluate the screening system and processes in use for pharmaceutical practitioners concerning legal recognition to practice in Namibia. This was also … Read more
