By: Haruna Kuyateh
North Bank Region, Regional Health Directorate, stakeholders in HIV/ AIDS sectors and counterpart at Kerr Ayib border in Senegal on Saturday organised HIV awareness sensitisation for the community of Kerr Ayib.
The theme: Combating HIV/AIDS along the border line in Kerr Ayib and Farafenni was held at the border town of Kerr Ayib in Senegal and the programme was attended by health care providers, social workers, Red Cross society volunteers in Gambia and Senegal and Student from Kaolack and Kerr Ayib. The one day programme was meant to advocate and fight against HIV and AIDS.
Ousman Thiao, Deputy Regional Governor Medina Sabach Region said the programme brought more people’s to adopt safer sex measure to control HIV transmission and encourage voluntary counselling and testing to know their health status. More intervention is needed on adolescent’s youths to help protect them from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS.
He said the partnership will contribute in building stronger relationships with partners in the Gambia in protecting and providing much needed support to people’s living with the virus.
Mariama Gaye, a representative of women of Kerr Ayib said the sensitisation is important in protecting women from infection and call on positive behaviour change to be faithful to their partners.
She called on women to value regular health check to know their HIV status and be able to protect the unborn.
Babou Jimba Jobe, Regional AIDS Coordinator for NBR noted that the partnership would enhance collaboration in controlling the epidemic. He said the fight against HIV calls for concerted efforts to ensure patients who are under treatment continue to take their medication both in the Gambia and Senegal.
He described the cross border HIV awareness campaign as a good move as health has no boundary and it would help enhance information sharing and follow up of patients in both countries.
Ebrima Njie Region Medical Officer Kaolack thanked health teams in Farafenni and Kerr Ayib for the efforts, saying the forum will help to create more public awareness on HIV mode of transmission and prevention.