a new war

June 24, 2004: The Independent in Sierra Leone has outlined "a new war" against HIV transmission, and gays and lesbians are not being ignored in the fight against the pandemic.

The report states that the AIDS pandemic has been observed to be spreading at a rapid rate in the post-war era and has been compounded by the socio-economic adversities exhibited by the war which is pushing many young people into promiscuity, especially at the weekend.

Concerned by this phenomenon, the National Aids Secretariat Director Professor Sidi Alghali has persistently advised Sierra Leoneans to take preventative measures against the disease.

Professor Alghali repeated his warning when the United States Center for Disease Control donated HIV/Aids diagnostic equipment for use at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown recently.

The donated equipment was handed over at Dr. King Library of the United States Embassy in Freetown and attracted dignitaries including Dr. Noah Conteh, Dr. Monica Nolan and Professor Sidi Alghali.

The National Aids Secretariat in Freetown has been working to combat Aids through several means. The secretariat hopes to reach rural communities through local councils and they use vernacular languages and drama, and involve chiefs and MPs in the campaign. Also, the secretariat has been publishing all its activities, including its expenditure, in a bid to enhance transparency.

Voluntary confidential counselling and testing services are provided, in the 34 Military Hospital at Wilberforce, Connaught Hospital, Marie Stopes Clinic and Urban Centre at Kissy. There are also pre-test and post-test counselling services followed up by support counselling.

The reports warns against the dangers of "Kamajor style", not using condoms and through sensitisation in collaboration with different organisations, the Secretariat has persuaded the public, especially the youth, to use "Bullet proofs" (Condoms) and it now provides free or subsidised condoms.

Efforts have also been made to motivate behaviour change including against the initiation of young girls in rural areas into secret societies. As the pandemic continues to ravage post-war Sierra Leone, it has become necessary to act and that demands concerted efforts the report encourages. NAS has been in the forefront of the fight. The Secretariat basically promotes healthy behaviour including voluntary HIV/Aids testing and counselling about STIs and Aids.

Through the numerous approaches that have been adopted the Secretariat hopes to mitigate the impact of Aids on the population. It hopes to combat the spread of the pandemic in high risk groups, reduce the rate of infection especially in women in the general public, in the armed forces and help HIV orphans as well as to sensitise the population about gays and lesbians.

The article closes with a bold and inclusive message: Through Information, education and communication, there is hope for behavioural change. The general hope has been that all hands will be on deck for Sierra Leone's new war; a war in which neither UN troops nor the Sierra Leone Armed Forces can fight the enemy without the active participation of the whole nation.