The
National Aids Secretariat in collaboration with the UNAIDS recently validated
the national HIV and AIDS resource mobilisation strategy.
The
Gambia National Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS has been developed to guide the
implementation of the national HIV and AIDS response.
The
validation workshop held at NaNA conference hall on Thursday brought together
representatives from the health sector, NGOs and UN system in The Gambia.
Speaking
on behalf of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare Omar Sey, Omar Njie,
said there is need for high level advocacy by NAS and its partners to enhance
the implementation of the HIV and AIDS Act.
He
said more need to be done to improve the capacity of frontline healthcare
providers, and enhance the provision of prevention, testing, treatment, and
care services for people living with HIV using rights-based approaches.
Mr
Njie said security forces and officials of the African Commission on Human and
People Rights and other human rights organisations should be sensitised on the
human rights dimensions of HIV and malaria, and on how to protect the rights of
key populations and other marginalised groups.
The
director of NAS, Omar Badjie, said the secretariat has been “relying heavily”
on donor funding but is now realised that reliance on donor funding is no
longer sustainable.
“This
is why we worked with our development partners to develop a resource
mobilisation strategy,” he said.
UNAIDS
Country Director Sierra Ndow said funds are needed to step up efforts in
certain interventions areas such as mass sensitisation and strengthening
community HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights responses.
