• Amara Lebbie Discloses

During a media engagement at the HIV/AIDS Secretariat in Freetown, the Senior Technical Advisor for Human Rights and Key Population, Amara S. Lebbie, told journalists that it is alarming that the HIV/AIDS statistics in Sierra Leone showed that some 81,000 people are living with HIV in the country, and out of this number, 22,000 are not receiving treatment, which poses significant threat to the society. The event was supported by the Global Fund against HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, in collaboration with the Consortium for the Advancement of Rights of Key Affected Population (CARKAP).

Lebbie maintained that statistics show that 11.8% of female sex workers in Sierra Leone are HIV-positive, describing it as far higher than that among men. Citing data from the 2019 Sierra Leone Demography Survey, he stated that the prevalence rate among adults has nearly doubled from 0.9% in 2002 to 1.7%, adding that various key population groups show higher HIV prevalence, which demands targeted interventions to control the epidemic.

Lebbie furthered that in their bid to increase testing, Self-Test Kits have been introduced, which allows individuals to test themselves for HIV. He also disclosed that they Secretariat has, in collaboration with other stakeholders, developed a comprehensive strategy to ensure an inclusive environment for People Living with HIV.

In his contribution, the Director General of the National AIDS Secretariat (NAS), Abdul Rahman Chernoh Sesay, stressed that they are committed to develop and implement an effective strategic plan that embraces prevention, treatment, care, and the protection of human rights. He added that NAS is working closely with CARKAP to bridge the gaps in HIV/AIDS response, with a view to reaching all affected populations through a public health approach. He encouraged residents in the country to take the issue seriously and embark on testing to know their status, as there is availability of treatment for the disease, maintaining that with collective effort we can be able to stem the spread of the disease and save Sierra Leone.