Gambia’s Deputy Director of Health Promotion and Education, Sanjally Trawally, has expressed government commitment to stepping up efforts with a view to fighting off HIV/AIDS.
“World AIDS Day is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made to date, raise awareness about the challenges that remain to achieve the goals of ending AIDS by 2030,” he said Saturday in a statement made on behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh during a colourful ceremony marking World AIDS Day.
Held at the Governor’s residence in Brikama, the celebration brought together major stakeholders, traditional chieftains, students and officials from Chinese Embassy.
Re-echoeing findings contained in the 2023 UNAIDS global report, Trawally said the UN body “estimated that 26,068 people are living with HIV in 2022 in The Gambia,” while indicating that “only 14,717 (56%) know their HIV status.”
Of those who know their status, he went on, 9554 (65%) were receiving treatment. “The country therefore needs to redouble its efforts in improving access to testing and treatment and also address stigma and discrimination as they continue to be compounding factors to the utilization of HIV/AIDS services.”
He assured that the Ministry will team with key stakeholders to “continue to spearhead the HIV and AIDS national response.”
Speaking earlier, the Deputy Governor of West Coast Region, Babagalleh Jallow, revealed that they have a very robust committee aimed at “discussing strategies to reduce the incidence of HIV through sensitization as well as schools.”
Deputy-Governor Jallow, who doubles as Regional Chairperson of the AIDS Committee, reiterated their commitment to fighting the disease and expressed hope that the region will be “placed at a better lens in terms of mortality and morbidity.”
Intensify Efforts
For her part, the National AIDS Secretariat (NAS) Director, Adama Drammeh, warned we should become complacent as HIV and AIDS-related deaths are declining.
“Our efforts to end the HIV pandemic must be intensified,” she said. But she was quick to add: “Successful HIV responses demand robust political leadership, addressing inequalities, involving communities and organizations and ensuring sustainable funding.”
She acknowledged the giant strides being made by countries like Botswana, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Zimbabwe in achieving “the 95-95-95 targets, with a least 16 others approaching this milestone.”
“The Secretariat will work closely with the Ministry of Health and stakeholders, stepping up our engagement with communities and recognizing their instrumental role in ensuring an effective response to HIV and AIDS,” she emphasized.
UNAIDS Country Director Sirra Ndow seized the opportunity to dive deep into the 2021 Political Declaration to Ending AIDS, adding that it “underscored the critical role communities play in HIV service delivery.”
She then deplored the alarming regression in commitments, noting that “20% of funding for HIV available through civil society organizations in 2921, compared to over 31% in 2012.”
According to her, community-based organizations have been at the forefront of the fight against HIV/AIDS and achieved commendable outcomes, “including 50% progress in access to HIV treatment and 20% reduction in new HIV infections.”
