The fifth Infantry Brigade in Gondama, near Bo city, has benefited from the new Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre (VCCT) for HIV/ AIDS, sponsored by the US government through the Defence Attaché’s office.
A release from the ministry of defence states that the Brigade commander of the Infantry, Col SN Sheriff, spoke at the opening ceremony that the global statistics of HIV was on the increase for which the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces had been added to the list as personnel who were at the high risk of being infected.
The release also stated that Col Sheriff noted that the law of personnel compromised combat readiness, particularly an Army’s stability to deploy at short notice and with the dreadful disease it impaired military readiness.
The Colonel also maintained that the facility was timely, as it would not only yield dividend to the military but the Gondama people and its environs.
The chief of defence staff, Major General Sam Mboma expressed his gratitude and appreciation on behalf of the RSLAF to the US government for their support in the fight against HIV.
Lt Col Gia Cromer, the US Defence Attaché, said the centre would serve to educate soldiers and their immediate families know their HIV statuses.
She also said plans were underway for similar projects in Makeni and Kenema.
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