NAS and the Support to HIV and AIDS Campaign
In the global picture of HIV and AIDS, Sierra Leone is blessed to be among those countries with a low prevalence rate of infection, a situation that is rare in third world sub-Sahara underdeveloped countries.
The truth though remains that as a developing country; Sierra Leone continues to face an intractable development dilemma in many areas and as such addressing the HIV and AIDS epidemic poses a serious challenge both the government of Sierra Leone and its development partners lurked in the battle to hush any further spread of the disease.
The national based HIV sero-prevalence survey carried out in 2005 reported a HIV prevalence rate of 1.53% ranging from 0.3 – 3.0% and recent confirmation by the UNFPA shows that the trend of the disease has taken a steady ride; left with efforts that will make it take the decline trend.
Annual antenatal survey report suggests a prevalence rate of 4.4% and about 10% in vulnerable groups such as commercial sex workers and uniformed personnel.
The idea that must be implemented in such a case is that; we would want to see a situation wherein government and its development partners support the National HIV and AIDS Secretariat to mainstream HIV into the Poverty Reduction Strategy of the country and ensure effective coordination of HIV interventions.
There must also be the case wherein the coordination mechanism of NAS is greatly improved to target and incorporate other sectors in the fight to quite the spread of the disease in which HIV and AIDS response readiness index developed and piloted in all districts; technical support provided to mainstream HIV and AIDS into the Poverty Reduction Strategy in key national institutions and donor base and AIDS workplace policy customized and implemented.
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2009, https:. All rights reserved.
