Concord Times (Freetown)
Mohamed Vandi
13 May 2008
Kenema — HIV/AIDS counsellor Kenema district Saturday disclosed that an exercise conducted throughout the country indicated that about two thousand, one hundred and eighty one pregnant women have so far been tested positive.
Gladys Gassama who was addressing participants during a two-day interactive workshop organized by the Reproductive Health Group Sierra Leone at the Holy Trinity Hall on Blama Road in Kenema emphasised on the need to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the disease.
"It is a concern to every Sierra Leonean that the number of pregnant women tested positive has increased. It is our responsibility to help disseminate the prevention concept nationwide.
HIV/AIDS kills, therefore we should be mindful of blood transfusion, sexual intercourse among other prevention methods," she said.
Gassama revealed that HIV/AIDS related stigma was one of the major factors that continue to discourage people from going for the test.
She said most people living with the disease shy away from members of their family.
"The government and non-governmental organisations have designed some major policies that will help to frustrate discrimination of HIV/AIDS victims," she said.
Programme specialist Mano River Union countries Maibor Ngombu said stigma and discrimination were the two major components that the community people should endeavour to fight against.
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