NEWS ADDO Steps to Cure Sierra Leoneans With HIV/AIDS Posted by on Jul 2, 2008, 18:37

In the fight against HIV/AIDS pandemic, many experts and institutions believe that preventing it causes is better than cure.In support of this phenomenon, the Archdiocesan Development Office, ADDO – Caritas, Freetown – Bo in collaboration with Caritas Germany – Sierra Leone Office has intensified their mitigation drive on HIV/AIDS in the southern region.

Over the weekend, ADDO organized a two – day intensive training for 60 participants from eleven parishes in the Southern Region including Bo, Moyamba, Pujehun and Bonthe.

The training aimed at educating Peace Building and Community mobilizers on the mitigation methods. i.e effect voluntary counseling and testing, Awareness raising and sensitization methods and contributing to the national mitigation of HIV with the hope of eradicating it at all cost.

Speaking to the Press, Rev. Fr. Theo Momoh, Host Parish Priest, St. Theresa’s Parish said, the training is important for the youths who are sexually active. They are a generation of generations that must be preserved from this killer disease he maintained.

Adding that, if we want our country to develop, we must prepare the youths to be able to care for the retired. We must educate them to know the existing problems. He said, he was highly impressed that the ADDO has recognized the problem of HIV/AIDS and now targeting the appropriate group. He thanked them for organizing the training.

Making a statement, Mr. Edward Junisa, Program Officer, ADDO – Caritas, Bo said, they targeting beneficiaries who belong to Catholic Organizations and Community groups. He told Participants that, in collaboration with Caritas – Germany SL Office, a first phase of similar project was conducted for counselors in the four Southern Districts. It paves the way for the establishment of a VCCT Centre at the LURDES Laboratory at ST. Francis compound in Bo for counseling and testing of volunteers who want to know about their status.

He further told participants that the second phase of training which was organized for them focuses on sensitization and care for dependant of people living with HIV/AIDS. They also stand to benefit a package containing education assistance, i.e uniforms, school fees and education food Basket. After all he said, we expect that you will sensitize people in the eleven parishes on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and help in the mitigation of it. And to lure people come out and volunteer.

At the end of the training, a quiz competition was contested by participating groups from the four districts. It was a memory test on topics and issues discussed during the training. Pujehun district took the first position scoring 13 points and received a prize of Le200, 000. Bo district came second scoring 4 points and received a prize of Le150, 000.Moyamba took third spot scoring 3 points and received a prize of Le100, 000 and Bonthe took fourth position scoring 2 points and received a prize of Le50, 000.

According to a survey by PAN AFRICAN Christian Aids Network on HIV/AIDS trends in Sierra Leone and its contributing factors; knowledge gaps on important issues of HIV/AIDS, low self – risk perception among Sierra Leonean, Limited Community Dialogue on issue of Sex, sexuality and HIV/AIDS, gender inequalities at all levels, harmful cultural and sexual beliefs and practices, Religions beliefs and drug – taking behavior, an outcome of the survey explains that Tonkolili district has the lowest HIV prevalence of 0.5% and Koinadugu district with the highest HIV prevalence of 3.0%.

Meanwhile, Caritas Germany has been given technical assistance to ADDO Caritas, Freetown – BO in the area of accounting, proposals, development and project circle management. They also have signed a technical cooperation in the running of pre – schools education in the country under the three Catholic Diocese offices in the South, East, North and Freetown.