Sierra Leone: Demographic and Health Survey Omits HIV Prevalence Rate

The Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) report 2013, which was recently published by Statistics Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, omitted data on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country, although the main goal of the survey was to provide reliable estimates on health and demographic indicators in the areas of fertility, mortality, family planning, maternal and child health, nutrition, malaria, and HIV/AIDS.

According to sources at the Health Ministry, blood samples of eligible respondents were obtained to test for HIV and other diseases, and were subsequently transmitted to the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory in Freetown for testing. The laboratory tests reveal lot of findings, but the report inexplicably failed to indicate the number of respondents with HIV/ AIDS or its prevalence in the country, a development a medical expert referred to as deceptive not only to the government and people of Sierra Leone but the international community, including Global Fund, which provides funding for sensitization and awareness about the pandemic, and prevention and care for those infected.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.