WHO Ends Retreat on The Fight Against HIV/AIDS In Sierra Leone
Mohamed Aruna The World Health Organization (WHO) Sierra Leone together with other stakeholders yesterday held a retreat on the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country.
The retreat focused on prioritizing prevention of transmission from mothers to their babies and improving on the cascade beyond 95/95/95.
In attendance was the Regional Coordinator for the United Nation, Babatubde Ahonsi together with the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Austin Demby.
‘’ I was inspired today by the renewed commitment of the HIV response constituency (led by the health minister) to achieve the SDG target of ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030 in Sierra Leone via a revised national strategic plan for HIV control’’ said Babatunde Ahonsi.
HIV is one of the most alarming health challenges in Sierra Leone, with over 83,000 people living with the disease. Only about half of those infected are aware of their status, and those who do not know their status pose a high risk of transmission to others.
Most HIV infection rates are among key populations, including men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers, people who inject drugs, and people in prison or detention.