Nangombe was speaking at a press conference on the status of HIV-AIDS in the country on Thursday afternoon.
“This means 37,8 million condoms of the 52 millimetre (mm) size are needed in the country… The demand for 49mm sized condoms is 7,2 million per year,” he said.
Nangombe explained that 726 180 eligible men have an estimated requirement of 40 condoms each per year.
“This is based on a population of 2,6 million, of which 49% are males, translating to approximately 1,2 million males. Of this total, 57% are in the age range of 15 to 64, which is deemed the reproductive age,” he said.
Health minister Kalumbi Shangula said approximately 33 000 people living with HIV either do not know their status, or do not have the virus under control.
This means that they may transmit the infection to sexual partners.
“HIV-positive pregnant and breastfeeding mothers can pass the virus to their children,” he said.
More than 13% of Namibian adults are HIV-positive which translates into 219 000 people, he said.
There are 6 000 new HIV infections and 3 000 deaths from HIV-AIDS each year in Namibia.
“Most people living with HIV who are taking their medication correctly every day, are stable, and will live long, healthy lives.
“Without critical HIV prevention and control measures, the epidemic could spiral out of control,” Shangula warned.
The minister said in 2022, they were able to gain control of the epidemic.
“The number of annual deaths among people living with HIV has more than halved. The rate of new HIV infections is almost four times lower“.
“The number of new HIV infections among children under the age of one has decreased by over 90%. Hospitals and health systems are no longer overwhelmed by HIV-AIDS,” he said.
Shangula said the gains of the past two decades are fragile, and the number of new HIV cases could increase rapidly if Namibians fail to continue to do what is necessary to prevent and control the spread of HIV.