Remarks

Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Matt Harrington, U.S. Embassy
Okongo ART Clinic Launch
October 30, 2009

Good morning.  It is a great pleasure to join you for the opening of this beautiful new antiretroviral treatment clinic.  I am honored to represent the United States Ambassador, Dennise Mathieu, who could not be with us today, but whose leadership has inspired all of us to achieve the results we see here.   I would like to thank Minister of Health Kamwi and the committed group of Namibian colleagues who have guided this project to completion.  In addition, I would like to add a special thanks to the physicians, nurses, pharmacists, community counselors, and support staff who will make this clinic a place of healing.

Before talking about this clinic’s role in Namibia’s response to HIV/AIDS, I’d like to take a moment to recognize the administrators and program managers whose dedication, persistence and attention to detail ensured that this project – from conception to the laying of the final brick – was completed with minimal delays and within the allocated budget.  As anyone who has embarked on a renovation project at home knows, construction-related details can quickly overwhelm even the best prepared homeowner.  With a large project like this, keeping track of the details requires constant vigilance.   Seemingly mundane details can spell disaster for a renovation project if they are ignored or not closely monitored, just as the strength of a chain can be undermined by one weak link.

And so, to those who kept a vigilant eye on the details – from the financial accounts to the logistics and procurement systems that carried supplies to this remote site – I extend our sincere thanks and congratulations.  Without your work, we would not be here today.
 
This opening marks the end of the construction phase and the beginning of clinical service delivery. The healing work that will be done here is essential.  But the delivery of clinical services alone will not be enough to make this clinic a success. 

I would like to challenge administrators and medical staff alike to consider this opening the start of a much longer process – one that entails not only attention to patients’ health, but also continued vigilance to non-medical details such as routine maintenance, repairs and procurement.  Our response to these details will determine the success or failure of this facility as much as -- if not more than -- the medical care provided here.

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, will remain a partner in this endeavor.  Building sustainable healthcare systems is a priority for PEPFAR.  I stress the word “systems” since antiretroviral medications and HIV/AIDS services are not delivered in a vacuum.   As Dr. Eric Goosby, the new PEPFAR leader has stressed since his appointment in June, “Building health systems to adequately respond to HIV/AIDS means [building] systems that can better respond to other health issues, as well.” In addition to Dr. Goosby’s remarks about “building” strong healthcare systems, I would place equal emphasis on the need to sustain these systems after the paint has dried.

PEPFAR will support the sustainability of facilities such as this one by assisting the Ministry of Health and Social Services, as well as the planned National AIDS Commission, to conduct costing exercises and to strengthen human resource systems. Understanding the costs associated with the delivery of medical services will help us identify efficiencies and, ultimately, begin to leverage economies of scale. These costing analyses will also look at ways to strengthen procurement and logistics.  I think we can all agree that in remote areas like this, efficient planning and effective logistics are essential.  Support for human resource systems will also ensure that professional staff deployed to Ministry facilities around the country will feel connected to each other and to the central office.

On behalf of the PEPFAR team here in Namibia, I am pleased to pledge our continued support for the behind-the-scenes administrative systems that complement the healing work done in these clinical facilities.

In conclusion, Minister Kamwi, you have referred to the construction and renovation of health facilities as a “priority.”  I share your sense of urgency on this issue, as does the global PEPFAR initiative.  Here in Okongo, this new facility will serve the approximately 2,000 patients currently enrolled in care and treatment, and accommodate many more in the future.

This facility is one of five newly renovated ART clinics supported by PEPFAR in Namibia – and so belongs to a strong network of HIV/AIDS services nationwide.  On behalf of Ambassador Mathieu and the entire USG PEPFAR team in Namibia, I look forward to working with all of you to continue strengthening this network – and the rest of Namibia’s healthcare system.

I am, again, honored to share the podium today with Minister Kamwi , and very pleased to welcome the staff whose dedication and professionalism will soon fill these rooms.

Thank you.