30,000 HIV test kits for World AIDS Day
The National HIV and AIDS Secretariat has together with development partners worked out modalities to ensure that Sierra Leoneans come out in their numbers to take the HIV test on from 26th November 2010 as part of this year’s commemoration of World AIDS Day in December 1, 2010. Even though Sierra Leone received a Millennium Development Award from the United Nations for the country’s effort in stabilizing the infection rate of 1.5%, this has not called for complacency. It rather places the country on its toes to ensure more leadership commitment together with key partners and the wider public to put hands on deck in the implementation of a new Strategic Plan that will be launched by President Ernest Bai Koroma on World AIDS. The new Strategic Plan will help Sierra Leone achieve the Millennium Development Goals, come 2015.
The country intends to target some thirty thousand people to know their status. NAS has already put together testing kits that will go all over the country from November 26th, 2010.
The Director of National AIDS Secretariat, Dr. Brima Kargbo said the theme for this year: ‘Universal access and Human Rights’, means a lot in the national response, and added that even though the country is provide free antiretroviral drugs to People Living with AIDS, some people that are infected fail to come out. He reiterated the fact that about 48, 000 Sierra Leoneans are living with the virus and about 9, 500 to 10,000 are currently taking the ARV. Another key challenge the NAS Director mention is that of Prevention from Mother to Child Transmission Service of which NAS has managed to reach about 51% of pregnant women. “We are encouraging pregnant women to come out for HIV test so that they save the lives of their unborn babies. The World AIDS day is very important for us and I am admonishing all to take the HIV test for a healthy life,” says Dr. Kargbo.
Madam Mulunesh Tennagashaw of UNAIDS said they are happy to see the epidemic declining by 25% in Sierra Leone, and noted that this does not call for complacency. She called on all to join in the vigil on 30th November, 2010 when a ‘light for dark’ message will be sent out to all, so as to reflect the existence of infected persons. Madam Mulunesh encouraged everybody living in Sierra Leone to come out, take the test to know their HIV status so that the country will prepare well in its prevention, care and support programs.
Mr. Arnold Macauley of the Network of HIV Positive persons encouraged Sierra Leoneans to come together to stop stigma and discrimination.
WORLD AIDS DAY TESTING CAMPAIGN- 2010
| NO | DISTRICT | NO
OF SITES |
TARGET (HIV TEST) | TARGET (CONDOM) |
| 1 | Bombali | 10 | 4,000 | 43,800 |
| 2 | Portloko | 08 | 3,500 | 36,500 |
| 3 | Tonkolili | 07 | 3,000 | 36,500 |
| 4 | Kono | 08 | 3,500 | 36,500 |
| 5 | Kenema | 09 | 3,000 | 43,800 |
| 6 | Bo | 08 | 3,000 | 43,800 |
| 7 | Koinadugu | 06 | 3,000 | 29,200 |
| 8 | Kambia | 08 | 3,000 | 29,200 |
| 9 | Kailahun | 05 | 1,500 | 21,900 |
| 10 | Pujehun | 08 | 3,000 | 29,200 |
| 11 | Bonthe | 05 | 1,500 | 21,900 |
| 12 | Moyamba | 05 | 2,000 | 29,200 |
| 13 | Western area (urban) | 23 | 6,000 | 63,700 |
| 14 | Western area (rural) | 11 | 4,500 | 58,400 |
| TOTAL | 120 | 43,500 | 524,400 |
LIST OF SITES WITHIN THE WESTERN AREA RURAL AND URBAN
| NO. | SITE | LOCATION |
| 1 | Fourahbay community | Urban |
| 2 | MARIE STOPES (KISSY/Aberdeen) | Urban |
| 3 | LUMLEY HOSP | Urban |
| 4 | Murray Town CHC | Urban |
| 5 | George Brook CHC | Urban |
| 6 | Kissy CHC/looking town | Urban |
| 7 | PPASL | Urban |
| 8 | Ginger Hall CHC | Urban |
| 9 | Kroo Bay CHC | Urban |
| 10 | Wilberforce CHC | Urban |
| 11 | Military Hospital | Urban |
| 12 | Mabella CHP | Urban |
| 13 | Moyiba CHC | Urban |
| 14 | Ross Road CHC | Urban |
| 15 | UMC Hosp | Urban |
| 16 | Rokupa Hosp | Urban |
| 17 | Calaba Town CHC | Urban |
| 18 | Kuntoloh CHC | Urban |
| 19 | Wellington CHC | Urban |
| 20 | West End Clinic | Urban |
| 21 | Graceland CS | Urban |
| 22 | Allen Town CHP | Urban |
| 23 | Lumpa CHC | Rural |
| 24 | Waterloo CHC | Rural |
| 25 | Stella Marris MCHP | Urban |
| 26 | Newton CHC | Rural |
| 27 | Grafton | Rural |
| 38 | Hastings CHC | Rural |
| 29 | Regent | Rural |
| 30 | TOMBO CHC | Rural |
| 31 | Goderich CHC | Rural |
| 32 | Kissi Town CHC | rural |
| 33 | Songo | Rural |
| 34 | Rokel village | Rural |
By Fadda Bakish
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