The event, which reviewed key HIV-related progress and challenges from January to December 2024, also serves as a platform to strategise for 2025.
Also, the stakeholder forum seeks to assess key performance indicators, including updates on HIV Testing Services (HTS), Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) programs for the first half of 2024.
Similarly, the forum saw discussions on achievements, challenges, and actionable steps to enhance the collective response to HIV/AIDS at the regional level.
Addressing the gathering, Bassirou Drammeh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kanifing General Hospital, emphasised the importance of high-level participation of stakeholders, stating that the presence of the Deputy Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council is a source of motivation for service providers.
He thus urged regional service providers to leverage the presented data to refine their strategies, improve outcomes, and prioritise effective counseling and outreach to encourage HIV testing and awareness.
Binta Janneh Jallow, Deputy Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council and Chairperson of the Municipal AIDS Committee, highlighted significant achievements made this far, which she said, include the expansion and decentralisation of ART services.
She noted that integrating HIV care with maternal and child health services, as well as tuberculosis (TB) care, has strengthened healthcare delivery and reduced missed opportunities for early diagnosis.
She commended community-based initiatives such as awareness campaigns and stigma reduction programs for increasing service uptake and improving health-seeking behaviors.
Despite these achievements, Jallow lamented the ongoing challenges, pointing out that stigma remains a major barrier, deterring individuals from seeking testing and treatment due to fear of judgment.
She thus underscored the need for increased financial, human, and logistical resources, as well as enhanced data collection and reporting mechanisms to support effective decision-making.
Deputy Director of NAS, Abubacarr Jah called on service providers to continue their unwavering commitment to supporting communities, urging them to work harder to meet their objectives. He reiterated the importance of maintaining a focus on prevention, counseling, and motivating individuals to know their HIV status.
The Municipal AIDS Coordinator, Gibril Sanneh, emphasised the importance of the annual HIV performance review, saying the presentation goes beyond statistics as it reflects lives impacted, challenges overcome, and the road ahead.
