Sierra Leone Reaffirms Commitment to Ending AIDS by 2030

By Sahr Ibrahim Komba (232news) –

Government officials, development partners, civil society leaders and the media on Friday convened at a high-level media breakfast dialogue in Freetown, ahead of World AIDS Day 2025, with a unified call for renewed commitment to ending AIDS in Sierra Leone by 2030.

The event, hosted by the National AIDS Secretariat (NAS), brought together key stakeholders to review progress, challenges and emerging priorities in the national HIV response.

Director General of NAS, Abdul Rahaman Sesay, said that despite more than three decades of confronting HIV in Sierra Leone, the country must continue to re-engage with “the spirit of not giving up.”

He stressed that the media remains a vital partner in disseminating accurate information, fighting stigma, and reaching people in communities who may never attend such policy engagements.

“We in the health sector have a responsibility, but the media also has a major responsibility to carry these messages far beyond this room,” he said. “Your voices help save lives.”

Presenting the national epidemiological update, Dr. Sulaiman Lakoh, Director of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Health, confirmed that Sierra Leone’s HIV prevalence remains at 1.7% among persons aged 15–49, as captured in the 2019 national HIV survey.

He disclosed that an estimated 81,000 people are currently living with HIV nationwide, including about 6,000 children under 15. The Western Area continues to have the highest burden.

Dr. Lakoh highlighted gender disparities, noting that women remain disproportionately affected.

He reported progress in reducing mother-to-child transmission, but expressed concern over gaps in testing, treatment adherence, viral suppression, and domestic financing.

“Only 65% of people on treatment are virally suppressed. This is far below where we need to be,” he warned.

“To achieve the 95-95-95 targets, we must address stigma, expand services, strengthen community systems, and increase government investment.”

UNAIDS Country Representative, Madam Jane Kalweo, said global progress remains fragile, with 40.8 million people living with HIV in 2024 and 1.3 million new infections recorded last year.

She warned that international HIV assistance has declined by nearly 40%, affecting programmes worldwide, including Sierra Leone.

“AIDS is not over. There is still no cure. If this funding decline continues, the world risks 3.3 million additional infections by 2030,” she said.

“We must use the limited resources effectively, invest in communities, strengthen accountability and embrace new technologies, including long-acting prevention options.”

She urged the media to amplify messages on treatment-as-prevention, emphasizing that people on effective treatment with undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV.

Dr. Kadie S. Samula, Deputy Bureau Chief of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Africa, reaffirmed AHF’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s HIV response.

She said AHF has grown from supporting 23 clients in 2012 to serving over 40,000 clients across 47 facilities in high-burden districts.

AHF has invested over US$20 million in infrastructure upgrades to ensure confidentiality, reduce stigma and improve quality of care.

“Across Africa, we have seen what happens when the media is fully engaged communities change and lives change,” she said.

“Young people still need guidance, and babies are still being born with HIV. The work is not over.

World Vision National Director, Philippe Guiton, highlighted the vulnerability of children, noting that many continue to face barriers in accessing testing, treatment and sustained care.

“Ending AIDS by 2030 requires that no child is left behind,” he said.

“Household and community-level stigma still prevents many children from getting the care they deserve.”

World Vision is expanding community case management to ensure that children affected by HIV receive continuous support.

UNFPA Family Planning Specialist, Haja Yeroh Bah, reiterated the importance of prevention as the most cost-effective and life-saving strategy.

She noted that UNFPA is scaling up community condom distribution, strengthening supply chains, and integrating HIV prevention into family planning services.

“Prevention starts with knowledge,” she said.

“Condoms remain a critical tool. So do HIV testing, PrEP, and ensuring that those on treatment stay virally suppressed.”

She emphasized that stigma, misinformation and limited youth-friendly services continue to hinder progress.

All speakers underscored that ending AIDS by 2030 is achievable, but only through strong collaboration among government, development partners, civil society, communities and the media.

As Sierra Leone prepares for its national World AIDS Day commemoration, stakeholders reaffirmed their shared commitment to building a future where no one is left behind.