By Allieu Sahid Tunkara
As the world commemorates World Aids Day yesterday, the Executive Director of UN Population Fund has assured that they will conquer the HIV virus by 2030.
Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin said HIV/AIDS “has been with us for more than 30 years”, adding the world had moved beyond “the early devastation wreaked by AIDS and scored many successes.”
He said the rate of new HIV infections had dropped by 13% over the past three years. Of the estimated 35 million people living with HIV in the world, he said that over 13 million were presently receiving treatment. He urged: “We need to do more to close the gap by 2030 so that every person has access to HIV prevention, treatment and support services.”
Sierra Leone’s Chief Medical officer, Brima Kargbo, said the Ebola outbreak in the country had had a “damaging effect on the HIV/AIDS campaign though the National AIDS Secretariat is working very hard to stop the HIV prevalence rate in the country.”
He called on his colleague health officials to “work very hard and stop the spread of Ebola Virus Disease so that we can give a meaning to the fight against HIV/AIDS.”
Dr. Kargbo cautioned the general public about stigmatisation against healthcare workers because of their involvement in the fight against the Ebola virus. “Let us come together and wage war against the HIV pandemic and the Ebola epidemic,” the CMO urged.
The UN AIDS Country Director, Dr. Joe Thomas stated that the UN had succeeded greatly in the area of breaking silence towards HIV/AIDS amongst the public. He said they were working very hard to ensure that HIV positive persons knew their status by 2020.
“We should show solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS to avoid stigmatization and marginalization,” he urged and pleaded with the public to actively cooperate with health professionals to stop the Ebola Virus disease in the country.
© Politico 02/12/14
