The National HIV and AIDS Secretariat (NAS) and UNFPA on Tuesday, 17th January launched the Sierra Leone Inter-Religious AIDS Network (SLIRAN) at the Presidential Lounge of the National Stadium.
SLIRAN is to provide leadership in strategic direction, resource mobilization as well as coordinate the activities of Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) to leverage their resources more effectively in responding to HIV and AIDS.
Officially launching the Network, Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Steven Ngaoja said the intervention of FBOs in HIV and AIDS campaigns is key noting that its coming into being is a clarion call from many Sierra Leoneans. He added that people from all spheres of life are affected with HIV and AIDS in one way or the other.
Minister Ngaoja stated that it is well documented that leaders from the two popular religious denominations (Islam and Christianity) command lots of respect amongst their various congregations, thus providing a perfect forum to disseminate tailored behavior change messages on HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment care and support, compassion, and spiritual and psychological counseling.
The Minister asserted that the launching of SLIRAN is not only timely, but also necessary to help individuals and families cope with AIDS, as they take their life saving medications.
Giving the status of the National Response on HIV, NAS Director, Dr. Brima Kargbo explained that the first case of HIV was reported in 1987 and in 2002 a national survey was conducted. He added that youth between the ages of 15 and 25 are reported as having high HIV prevalence rates and that the rate is higher in the urban areas than the rural areas.
Dr. Kargbo noted that the HIV prevalence rate is higher among sex workers, followed by the fishermen, mine workers, traders, transporters, blood transmission, and injection drug users.
The Director also revealed that the HIV prevalence rate is higher among widows and divorced women than marriage women, noting that the prevalence rate is also higher among educated people than the uneducated.
In his address, SLIRAN Chairman, Alhaji Teslim Alghali reminded the gathering that the international community recognizes AIDS Multi-Sectoral development challenges and has recognized FBO’s as key to multi- sectoral, multi partner response, as it works towards “Getting to Zero New HIV Infection by 2015-A Religious Response”.
UNFPA HIV Programme Officer, Nyaibor Ngombu said the UNFPA recognizes the role played by religious leaders in their communities. She added that Sierra Leone has a low prevalence of HIV but there is the potential for that situation to increase.
Reverend Father Peter Conteh, Director of Caritas and National President, Priests of Sierra Leone said his organization supports this new ‘old baby’. He pledged his organization’s commitment to collaborate and implement programmes of the national aids response for HIV.
President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Sierra Leone, Bishop Archibald Cole registered his group’s commitment to work with SLIRAN at all times.
Amir of the Ahmidiyya Mission and NETHIPS Advocacy Officer, Arnold Macauley also registered commitment to collaborate with SLIRAN.
By Abibatu Kamara
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