hiv/aids sero-prevalence survey conducted in sierra leone

By Abu Whyte Fofanah (The Independent)

June 17, 2005: The National Aids Secretariat (NAS) says the purpose of the survey is to determine the level of HIV infections in the population with emphasis on high risk groups and vulnerable populations in order to plan, execute and implement appropriate intervention strategies more effectively.

According to the secretariat the data and attendant information collected and collated will be utilized to reduce the spread of the virus and mitigate its impact on the people and the economy. The Secretariat's Survey Team will be visiting selected households in selected chiefdoms in all districts and started work on June 15th and will continue till July 15th 2005 to interview and collect blood samples from some household members.

The director of the National Aids Secretariat Professor Sidi Alghali says the results would help the Secretariat to plan, monitor, execute plans and make effective interventions to curb the pandemic.

He says a Ghanaian research consultancy Nimba Research Consultancy has been contracted to do the survey, adding that questionnaires would be used so as to elicit facts on gender and age correlation to infections. "It will help us in our planning and methodology", he says.

Dr Brima Kargbo the HIV/AIDS Team Leader in the Secretariat says, 'If we know how many people are infected, we will know how to plan properly", adding: "This survey will be countrywide and will therefore give a comprehensive picture of the prevalence".
Dr Kargbo says the secretariat has discovered that there are rent boys (male prostitutes). He says the secretariat now takes into consideration gays and lesbians, adding that commercial sex workers have been targeted as one of the high risk groups in the survey.

Dr. Leopold Zekeng the UNAIDS country coordinator says in order to properly plan and provide resources, there is a need to know the magnitude of the pandemic. He urges all stakeholders in the country to be committed, dedicated and professional in carrying out the tasks. "UNIADS urges government to provide access to treatment and prevention countrywide", he says