HIV/AIDS Confab Ends

The Ministry of Gender and Development, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the National ADIS Commission, climaxed its four day-interactive sessions with various partners held in Paynesville at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports stadium.

Attending the conference were Women groups, Religious leaders, Traditional leaders, superintendents, as well as people living with of HIV and others government officials.

The conference was intended to identify various roles of religious, traditional and other civil organizations in the prevention and reduction of HIV /AIDS in Liberia. Mr. Ruben Gbowoh of the National AIDS Commission extended gratitude participants at the conference, assuring Liberians that the institution was ready.

Chief Momo Kiazalu, Vice Chairman for Chief Affairs of the National Traditional council  assured that the discovery of a new knowledge in the HIV/AIDS campaign would be an important agenda item to be discussed at their private meetings.

“The new ideas were good, but they needed time and total discussion,  and we are willing and open to working with various partners for a better and safe Liberia,” Kiazulu noted

Another issue identified by Grand Gedeh County Superintendent Christopher Bailey was the inability of the National AIDS Commission to extend to other parts of the country, including his county.

He noted that with the new relationship, he will collaborate with other county officials in setting up a budget to join the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The Islamic community representative at the conference, Kalilu Jalloh, Special Assistant to Imam at the fish market mosque, described the impact of the conference  as great on his life and  would begin transferring such knowledge acquired to other members of his community.

At the end of the conference, a communiqué was signed by the participants for the enactment and approval of the HIV/AIDS laws by the Liberian Legislature and President of Liberia and printed into handbills. The Communiqué also expressed the hope that the laws will be widely disseminated within the counties. The communiqué also called for the review of the Liberian HIV treatment guidelines, in accordance with the World Health Organization standards.

It is also calling for the elimination of mother to child transmission by advocating for the establishment of the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) center around the country.

Protecting the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS and creating methods of encouragement for them to become agents of change.