A Non-Governmental Organization Action Plus in collaboration with the National Aids Secretariat (NAS) with funds from Positive Action for Children Fund UK, has launched a project titled ”Community Initiative to Reduce HIV infection among women and girls in Kenema and Kailahun districts”.
The engagement took place at the Kenema District Council hall along Nyandeyama road in Kenema where various stakeholders delivered statements.
In his opening statement the chairperson of the program who doubles as regional coordinator east National Aids Secretariat (NAS) Mohamed Sesay congratulated Action Plus for securing funds for the fight against HIV in the region. He said the prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS in the Country in 2013 was 1.5 percent adding that Kenema district recorded the highest number of HIV infected people among six districts in the country. He disclosed that women recorded the higher number of HIV infection than men, adding that over 5000 children were also HIV infected in the country.
Giving an overview of the project, the project manager Action Plus Agnes Momoh said the project is aimed at supporting HIV positive mothers and affected families.
She disclosed that the duration of the project is 36 months and is aimed at reducing new infection on women and girls by 30 percent. He added that they were targeting 6 chiefdoms and 12 communities that are considered high prevalence HIV communities.
Agnes Momoh said they will be training 200 community actors and leaders on HIV and AIDS and promote HIV testing, noting that the project will also look at supporting and providing job facilities for 600 women and their families.
The mental health nurse Hawanatu Foday at the government hospital in Kenema said the launch of the project was timely to reduce HIV infection among women and girls.
Delivering his key note address the chairman Kenema district council Dr. Senesie Mansaray said the number of infected HIV persons in the country was alarming.
He however attributed the HIV continuous infection rate to the denial syndrome among members of the public and therefore called on all and sundry to join the fight against HIV/AIDS.
By Saffa Moriba
Friday July 22, 2016
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