By Politico Staff Writer
As its membership across the country assembled to deliberate on critical issues toward the progress of the organization, the Network of HIV Positives in Sierra Leone (NETHIPS), has vowed to curtail the chain of transmission of the disease in the country.
NETHIPS held this year’s Annual General Meeting with the theme “Adapting to a changing context”, in Kenema from the 6th - 7th September, 2023.
In his opening statement, the Chairman of the AGM and Chairperson for Kenema District Council, Mohamed Amodu Sesay referred to the occasion as another important aspect of the country's development. He stressed that as a country, “we should strive to join NETHIPS to succeed in mitigating the negative impact of HIV and that as citizens, the interest of the country should supersede individual interest.”
He told the gathering that the issue of HIV is not a new thing in the country and the initiative to form an organization that coordinates the affairs of people living with the virus was not a mistake but a measure to help the people.
Sesay called on law enforcement bodies to stand up and condemn the stigmatization of people living with HIV and for those in the habit of doing so to face the full force of the law. He assured the leadership of NETHIPS that as a local council, they will continue to work with them at the district level.
Giving the overview of NETHIPS, the Executive Director of the organization, Idrissa D.M Songo said it was formed on the 19th of December 2006 and serves as an umbrella organization for people living with HIV. He said the practice of saying ‘people living with HIV’ has been changed globally as it was considered a subtle form of stigmatization that has now been replaced with the new terminology “Recipients of Care.”
He stated that the organization has 73 support groups and every district has at least one. He informed the meeting that the Eastern region has 15 groups, North-15, South-19, and 24 in the Western Area, and assured that by June 30, 2024, they would have had a total of 200 support groups nationwide.
Director Songo stated that they have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Health through the National AIDS Control Programme so that after testing people, those found positive for HIV and willing, are sent to NETHIPS to join the support groups whose membership is voluntary.
He reiterated that the support groups have Peer Educators who provide current and accurate information about HIV, exchange ideas, and discuss other critical issues, such as the use of condoms, disclosure, and talk about treatment issues during support group meetings. He stated that the Peer Educators collect information from the health facilities on those who are not coming for their treatment and will trace them and bring them back to care.
He emphasized the essence of belonging to support groups which is to encourage members to feel that they are not alone with the infection and they will meet with other people who have faced similar challenges before which will help them with coping strategies.
He commended the Global Fund through the Ministry of Health for funding the AGM.
In his Keynote address, the Director General of the National HIV/AIDS Secretariat Abdul Rahman Sesay told NETHIPS members to also focus on other diseases such as hepatitis which some could also be suffering from.
He assured that all resolutions taken from the AGM will be tabled before the office of the Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, and President Julius Maada Bio. He disclosed that very soon the Chief Justice and team will be moving around the country to look at the issue of stigmatization so that the law can be fully enforced.
NETHIPS aims to empower communities to respond to the impact of HIV & AIDS in their localities in an inclusive and resilient manner.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (13/09/23)
