Gambia to Mark World Aids Day on Dec 7 in Tanji

This year’s commemoration held on the theme ‘take the right path’, will be observed on December 7^th in Tanji in the West Coast Region. However, the day is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made to date, raise awareness about the challenges that remain to achieve the goal of ending AIDS by 2030 and mobilize all stakeholders to jointly redouble efforts to ensure the success of the HIV response.

Welcoming the gathering, Alpha Khan, Director of the National AIDS Secretariat, reminded that each year on December 1^st the world commemorates World Aids Day to unite and show support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from the disease related illness.

"Each World Aids Day focuses on a specific theme, with this year’s theme being -‘take the right path.

Khan pointed out that the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging global leaders and citizens to champion the right to health by addressing the inequalities that hinder progress in the fight against AIDS.

He stressed that ending AIDS requires reaching all populations affected by or at risk of HIV, including men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, people who inject drugs, sex workers, and prisoners.

He observed that people living with HIV often face the dual burden of the disease and the stigma associated with it, further calling for continued efforts to challenge stigma and discrimination, which remain significant barriers to accessing HIV care and achieving universal health coverage.

While scientific advances have led to the development of effective antiretroviral treatments that suppress the virus, Khan noted that new infections still occur each year, and many people remain unaware of how to protect themselves from HIV.

He reiterated that stigma and discrimination continue to affect many people living with HIV.

Mam Kumba Ndow, HIV/AIDS Project Manager at ActionAid The Gambia, explained that the failure to reach the first "95" target, identifying people living with HIV- has hindered progress toward achieving the second and third targets related to treatment and viral suppression.

She emphasized the importance of focusing on at-risk populations for better outreach.

Sierra Horeja Ndow, UNAIDS Country Director, highlighted the importance of gender equality in the fight against HIV.

"The substantial progress that has been made in the HIV response is directly linked to the progress in protecting human rights. In turn, the progress made through the HIV response has galvanized broader progress in realizing the right to health and strengthening health systems. But gaps in the realization of human rights for all are keeping the world from getting on the path that ends AIDS and are hurting public health and now a surge in attacks on rights is threatening to undermine the progress that has been made."

She pointed out that of the 39.9 million people living with the virus, 9.3 million people are still not accessing life-saving treatment. Last year, 630,000 people died of AIDS -related illness and 1.3 million people around the globe newly acquired HIV. In at least 28 countries, the number of new HIV infection is on the rise. To bring down the trajectory of the pandemic, it is imperative that life-saving programmes can be reached without fear by all who need them."

While stressing that gender equality is an essential element of an approach to AIDS that is grounded in human rights, she revealed that every day in 2023, 570 young women and girls between the ages of 15 and 24 acquired HIV across 22 countries in West and Central Africa.

"Young women in this age group are three times more likely to be living with HIV than their male peers."

Ndow thus called for better education and information for girls to help them stay safe, highlighting that tackling discrimination and violence against girls is both a human rights and health emergency.