By Feima Sesay
The fight against HIV and AIDS in Sierra Leone took a significant step forwards sustained health benefits ; this indication is evident as key health partners across Sierra Leone came together to celebrate and denounce discrimination and stigma associated with HIV.
These commitments were expressly demonstrated at Youyi Building Compound, on Monday 2nd December 2024.
The event took a match in demonstration of World Aids Day with the theme for this year’s “Take The Right Path: My Health My Right.”
The United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan Hunt remarked that stigma and discrimination remain major barriers to progress in the fight against HIV globally and in Sierra Leone, noting that “stigma doesn’t not only isolates individuals but also discourages them from seeking healthcare and treatment, fearing judgment or mistreatment. Many people living with or at risk of HIV delay or avoid testing, treatment, and other lifesaving interventions due to the fear of being labelled.” He said.
According to Ambassador Hunt, “stigma is not just a moral imperative but a critical public health strategy to ensure everyone can access the care they need.” He urged the Government to remain committed to ensuring human rights protection are respected and that people living with and at risk of HIV can access services they need without fear of discrimination or abuse. “It is only then we can achieve an HIV-free future,” he maintained.
The Deputy German Ambassador in his statement also said world Aids day demonstrate to reflection , raise awareness and stand together in solitary with those living with HIV and those that have died of the disease.
According to him, 40 million people are affected by the virus worldwide and more than 1.3 million new infections in 2023, the pandemic of HIV/AIDs he added is far from over.
Deputy Ambassador also made mentioned of the fact that a lot has been achieved in the past years and decades.
He said with advanced testing methods, individuals could now learn about their status fast and anonymously.
Sierra Leone he said has made significant effort in the fight against HIV/AIDs, that since 2010, the prevalence of the virus could be reduced by an estimated 39%.
Germany he said, has been supporting the government of Sierra Leone to enhance the awareness and availability of condoms as an effective precautions against HIV/AIDs as a means for men to take responsibility.
Together with international partners and civil society organizations, they will support the government in improving prospect for vulnerable population groups.
He added that the reduction of sexual and gender base violence, the elimination of prejudice against the advancement of family planning remain an essential objective
“let us all be reminded that the realization of fundamental and human right for all and fight against any form of discrimination remain our on shared duty”, he urged.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Seraphine Wakana remarked that the world has made enormous progress in reducing the impact of HIV over the last 15 years.
Globally, approximately 39.9 million people living with HIV, a total of 30.7 million people—77% of those living with HIV —were on treatment in 2023, up from just 7.7 million in 2010.
“This has resulted in a dramatic decline in AIDS-related deaths, down by 51% over the same period. Sierra Leone has made progress in responding to HIV. Of the 77,000 people living with HIV, 95 know their status and 90/are on treatment,” he noted.
Although a range of effective treatment and prevention tools have been developed, Wakana said that the world is still not on track to end AIDS as a global health threat by 2030.
She commended the Government of Sierra Leone for the gains made in combating HIV/AIDS in the country. However, she noted that the commitment to protect children affected with HIV is not being met.
“1 in 3 children do not receive HIV testing within the first two months of life, the provision of lifelong antiretroviral therapy to pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV has not increased over the last decade, and HIV treatment coverage is markedly lower for children at 57% than it is for adults at 77%. In Sierra Leone,” she revealed.
According to the UN Resident Coordinator, the criminalization and marginalization of groups of people, such as sex workers, people who use drugs undermine efforts to end AIDS. “Stigma and discrimination towards people living with and affected by HIV impacts access to services and care. Stigma and discrimination prevent individuals from learning their HIV status, disclosing it to family members and sexual partners, and accessing medical care and treatment. This weakens their ability to protect themselves and stay healthy,” she said.
Wakana mentioned that stigma also impacts emotional and mental health: People living with HIV often internalize the stigma they experience, leading to negative self-image and fear of discrimination if their status is revealed.
“Without addressing these inequalities, global health access to the services necessary to end the AIDS epidemic will remain out of reach,” she observed.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby remarked that yesterday was a day to reflect and raise awareness and stand together in solidarity with those living with HIV and those we have lost to the disease.
The Health Minister stressed the need for testing for the virus, stating that knowing one’s status is a fundamental pre-condition for the avoidance of the further spread of the virus, saying people knowing their status and handling that knowledge responsibly can effectively take precautions in order not to pass the virus over to others.
“With the 95-95-95 target, the United Nations have set clear and reachable goals to reduce the human suffering from the virus. While a lot has been achieved, more needs to be done, for prevention, better accessibility of testing, better and regular treatment, the reduction of prejudices around the virus,” Minister Demby said.
Speaking on behalf of NETHIPS, Advocacy and Communications Officer, Mary B. Ahmed also mentioned that persons living with HIV continues to face discrimination, stigma, which according to her hinders access to equitable access to healthcare.
She noted that health is a fundamental human right but is often denied to persons living with HIV. She urged partners to come together to beat the menace of stigma, thereby creating access to equitable healthcare for persons living with HIV.
