Liberia: 3 Out of Every 100 Liberians Are Infected With HIV/Aids
By, The Inquirer (Monrovia), November 9, 2006
In the face of the rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on an alarming rate in Sub-Saharan Africa, Liberia's Vice President, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, has revealed that nearly three out of every 100 Liberians are infected with the HIV/AIDS virus describing same as very serious.
Veep Boakai noted that an estimate speaks of a 10 to 12 percent prevalence rate in Liberia. The Liberian Vice President then, described such a revelation on the rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS virus in war-affected Liberia as very alarming.
Veep Boakai said HIV/AIDS has become a major obstacle in Sub-Saharan Africa, undermining decades of development efforts saying that this is a problem that threatens to take away the hopes for the future of all generations. He stated that for countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS is a development problem per se, and not merely health issue.
The Liberian Vice President made the assertion recently when he served as the keynote speaker at a program marking the official launching of the World AIDS Day organized by the National AIDS Control Program (NACP) held at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion on Ashmun Street, Monrovia.
Veep Boakai said it is necessary for the international community to deal with this problem as a top priority. He said the problem is compounded by the high rate of poverty and conflict saying,
"These twin evils are impending efforts to fight HIV/AIDS. Veep Boakai maintained that a multi-faceted specific action is needed especially to in the light of poverty reduction and conflict prevention. "Based upon this understanding, the government of Liberia, with its international partners will have to strengthen its policies to fight HIV/AIDS," he added.
Veep Boakai said the region continues to lose its sons and daughters who are in the productive age group. He noted that no specific sector has been spared and the disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the history of mankind.
Vice President Boakai noted that while some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have recorded a decline in the prevalence rate, the AIDS pandemic continues to reach alarming levels in Liberia, but he was quick to say that Liberia must also institute strategies to combat this scourge.
Among other things, Veep Boakai said the Liberian government has committed itself fully to fight against this epidemic. He said HIV/AIDS was declared a national disaster so as to give priority to the disease and its impact.
In her welcome statement, the Acting Program Manager of the NACP, Madam Lwopu Bruce said that the month of November has been set aside for the awareness and the sensitization campaign by the NACP in every part of the country.
Madam Bruce said the month of November would be used to intensify campaign against the killer disease as posters; T-shirts and other materials with anti-AIDS messages will be distributed in Monrovia and parts of rural Liberia. Liberia is expected to join other nations the world over in the observance of this year's World AIDS Day slated for December first. The day was set aside by the United Nations to highlight the danger HIV/AIDS poses to human lives.
In the face of the rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on an alarming rate in Sub-Saharan Africa, Liberia's Vice President, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, has revealed that nearly three out of every 100 Liberians are infected with the HIV/AIDS virus describing same as very serious.
Veep Boakai noted that an estimate speaks of a 10 to 12 percent prevalence rate in Liberia. The Liberian Vice President then, described such a revelation on the rapid spread of the HIV/AIDS virus in war-affected Liberia as very alarming.
Veep Boakai said HIV/AIDS has become a major obstacle in Sub-Saharan Africa, undermining decades of development efforts saying that this is a problem that threatens to take away the hopes for the future of all generations. He stated that for countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS is a development problem per se, and not merely health issue.
The Liberian Vice President made the assertion recently when he served as the keynote speaker at a program marking the official launching of the World AIDS Day organized by the National AIDS Control Program (NACP) held at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion on Ashmun Street, Monrovia.
Veep Boakai said it is necessary for the international community to deal with this problem as a top priority. He said the problem is compounded by the high rate of poverty and conflict saying,
"These twin evils are impending efforts to fight HIV/AIDS. Veep Boakai maintained that a multi-faceted specific action is needed especially to in the light of poverty reduction and conflict prevention. "Based upon this understanding, the government of Liberia, with its international partners will have to strengthen its policies to fight HIV/AIDS," he added.
Veep Boakai said the region continues to lose its sons and daughters who are in the productive age group. He noted that no specific sector has been spared and the disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the history of mankind.
Vice President Boakai noted that while some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have recorded a decline in the prevalence rate, the AIDS pandemic continues to reach alarming levels in Liberia, but he was quick to say that Liberia must also institute strategies to combat this scourge.
Among other things, Veep Boakai said the Liberian government has committed itself fully to fight against this epidemic. He said HIV/AIDS was declared a national disaster so as to give priority to the disease and its impact.
In her welcome statement, the Acting Program Manager of the NACP, Madam Lwopu Bruce said that the month of November has been set aside for the awareness and the sensitization campaign by the NACP in every part of the country.
Madam Bruce said the month of November would be used to intensify campaign against the killer disease as posters; T-shirts and other materials with anti-AIDS messages will be distributed in Monrovia and parts of rural Liberia. Liberia is expected to join other nations the world over in the observance of this year's World AIDS Day slated for December first. The day was set aside by the United Nations to highlight the danger HIV/AIDS poses to human lives.
posted by AIDS-Care-Watch at 11:32 am
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