The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), in partnership with the National HIV/AIDS Secretariat (NAS), on Monday 1st December, 2025 commenced the 2025 World AIDS Day observance with a high-level media breakfast at the Sierra Palm Hotel in Freetown marking a renewed push to strengthen the country’s HIV response. The gathering brought together representatives of the UN Family, Government Ministries, Civil Society and other key stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

In his opening remarks, Director General of NAS, Abdulrahman Sesay, expressed optimism in the national AIDS response despite persistent challenges in recent years.

“The breakfast today is part of our resolve on the commitment we’ve made and to also plan for the World Aids Day celebration proper,” he said. Abdulrahman Sesay underscored the importance of coordinated information-sharing and urged the media to support nationwide public sensitization. He also thanked development partners for their unwavering support.

Providing a data-driven perspective, Dr. Sulaiman Lakoh, Director of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, traced the HIV timeline in Sierra Leone back to 1987 when the first case was detected. He disclosed that the national HIV/AIDS prevalence stands at 1.7 percent, with 60,000 children currently living with the disease. Western Rural District records the highest prevalence while Kailahun maintains the lowest.

Dr. Lakoh named men who have sex with men, female sex workers and people who inject drugs as key populations at greater risk. Although new infections account for 40 percent of current cases, he noted a notable decline in AIDS-related deaths due to strengthened health interventions.

Representing AHF, Dr. Kate Ssamula reiterated the global commitment to end AIDS by 2030. She highlighted that over 40,000 people worldwide are infected daily; half of them in Africa.  Dr. Kate Ssamula announced the opening of a new AHF-supported HIV clinic in Waterloo, aimed at expanding access to treatment, care and support services. She emphasized the crucial role of the media in disseminating accurate information and amplifying human-interest stories that drive action.

UNFPA Representative Haja Yoroh Bah echoed those sentiments, stressing the media's power in shaping public attitudes toward prevention, stigma and care. She revealed that UNFPA has installed condom pickup stations in key locations nationwide, calling condoms “a simple but powerful tool” in achieving the 2030 target.

Speaking on behalf of NETHIPS, Mary Ahmed said the theme of ending HIV/AIDS reflects a solemn promise to those living with the virus. She cited stigma and discrimination as major obstacles that prevent people from seeking testing and treatment. She urged stronger collaboration among Government, civil society and the media to reinforce community-level structures.

Adding a critical voice, Mariama Dawo of Happy Kids and Adolescents asked whether Sierra Leone is truly ready to eliminate HIV as a public health threat in the next five years; concluding firmly that the country is not yet prepared. She urged Government and partners to prioritize consistent supply of test kits and warned against any reduction in funding for HIV response programmes.

The event served as a precursor to the national commemoration of World AIDS Day on December 1st, reinforcing a unified call for accountability, sustained investment and strengthened community engagement to accelerate progress toward ending AIDS by 2030. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/ahf-partners-commemorate-world-aids-day-with-call-for-renewed-national-commitment/