Stakeholders from the HIV and AIDS sector in the North Bank Region, NBR,
held a massive public awareness campaign to enhance community understanding on
the importance of Voluntary Counseling and Testing, VCT, as a pre-requisite in
the fight against HIV and AIDS.
The initiative was part of the region’s commemoration of World AIDS Day 2014, and included radio talk shows at Kerewan Community and Farafenni Community radio stations, and a community outreach VCT activity in Ndungu Kebbeh and Nawleru.
Speaking in Nawleru and Ndungu Kebbeh, the regional Aids coordinator, Babou Jimba Jobe, said the National Aids Secretariat and Global Fund attach great significance to raising public awareness on prevention of HIV and AIDS, and would encourage people to go for VCT to know their HIV status.
He said the fight against the epidemic calls for the concerted efforts of all, and thanked all stakeholders and communities for their support and cooperation in the fight against HIV.
Moro Saidykhan and Mam Camara of Kerewan Health Centre commended the regional AIDS committee in complementing the Health ministry’s work in providing quality health care services.
The health officers said VCT is a necessity in the fight against HIV and called on people to endeavour to know their HIV status.
Haruna Kuyateh of Worldview and Ousman C Jallow of Gambia Red Cross Society both noted that the use of mass media would strengthen awareness and contribute to the global theme of World AIDS Day.
They used the moment to call for people to advocate zero tolerance against gender-based violence.
Malick Drammeh, VDC chairperson of Ndungu Kebbeh, commended NAS and partners for providing services to the people, and expressed their support to advocacy for people to know their HIV status.
