Freetown — Country representative of the United Nations fund for population activities, UNFPA has returned after a visit to refugees and neighbouring communities at Tobanda in the Small Bo chiefdom, Kenema district.

Banabas Lisa expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the HIV/AIDS program, saying his organization was working towards reintegrating refugees into their former communities.

He registered his organization's support to refugees in the area of healthcare delivery, HIV/AIDS, child and maternal mortality.

The UNFPA rep called on the communities to support his organization's HIV/AIDS scheme and appealed to communities to go for voluntary HIV/AIDS test.

Caritas' focal person for the HIV/AIDS program Ismiel Kanneh said the visit was an epoch making one in the lives of refugees.

Kanneh catalogued some of the benefits refugees have enjoyed from UNFPA through its implementing partner, Caritas.

HIV/AIDS program officer in Kenema formally presented the team that has been implementing UNFPA/MRU HIV/AIDS projects in the Tobanda community.

Leonie Adama Musa, Caritas' HIV/AIDS program officer said UNFPA was focused on the fight against HIV/AIDS.

She said her organization was interfacing with the community radio network, CORNET in a bid to sensitize community members on the dangers of the pandemic.

A representative of CORNET Ahmed Kallon who said he was impressed by the cooperation of the refugees also noted that radio messages in the eastern region have helped to minimize the spread of the disease.

Kallon called on the community to change their sexual behaviour.