Gambia Aids & HIV

Gambia HIV Aids

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Statistics fortunately show that HIV/AIDS has not hit as hard in The Gambia as in other parts of Africa. However, full-blown efforts are being made to halt its advance in the country, and everywhere you will see the evidence—education programs, TV and radio commercials, billboards, youth camps etc.

This column is an extract of statistics sourced from: The Gambia Draft, UNGASS Report, December 2005.
For more information see their PDF report

Whilst the HIV/AIDS prevalence in The Gambia is categorized as low, at 2.1% for HIV1 and 0.8% for HIV2 among women 15-49 years old attending antenatal clinic, all signs are that the epidemic is on the increase, see Figure 1. Results from the sentinel studies have firmly established that HIV1 is now the main virus driving the epidemic in The Gambia; whilst HIV2 seems to be on the decline. Like in most of sub-Saharan Africa heterosexual intercourse is the main mode of HIV transmission.

The first round of the National Sentinel Surveillance for HIV among antenatal women was conducted between May 2000 and August 2001 in four health facilities, namely Sere Kunda, Sibanor, Farafenni and Basse. The number of sentinel sites was later increased to six in 2002 (adding Brikama and Kuntaur) and eight in 2005 (adding Essau and Soma).

The 2004 sentinel surveillance data indicated that HIV1 prevalence amongst 15 to 49 year old pregnant women has increased at most sites, as shown in Table 1 in page 5. There is limited data on prevalence among high-risk groups, including sex workers who had a prevalence of 14% for HIV1 in 1993 and 28% in 19993. Furthermore, lack of data on the prevalence of HIV in other key groups such as uniformed personnel, long distance truck drivers, fisher folks, etc. may mask the true extent of HIV infection rates in the country.

Spending

Amount of national funds disbursed by The Gambia Government in 2004 on
HIV/AIDS: US$5,543,2271
(Source: National AIDS Secretariat)

Policy Development & Implementation Status

National Composite Policy Index: 88 out of 100
(Source: NCPI Questionnaire)

National Programmes:
HIV testing & prevention programmes

Percentage of population who received HIV testing in the last 12 months and know the results:

Gender	Total
Males	6.7%
Females	4.8%
Both Sexes	5.8

(Source: BSS 2005)

Percentage of population reached with HIV/AIDS prevention programmes:

4.1 - Exposure to mass media

Gender	Total
Males	90.6%
Females	86.9%
Both Sexes	88.7%

(Source: BSS 2005)

4.2 - STI (genital discharge and/or genital ulcer) treatment

Gender	Total
Males	40.4%
Females	26.3%
Both Sexes	34.1%

(Source: BSS 2005)

KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOUR

Percentage of population who both correctly identify ways of preventing the sexual transmission of HIV and who reject major misconception(s) about HIV transmission:
Males: 50.7%
Females: 48.8%
Both sexes: 49.7%
The above combines knowledge about all three ABC modes of prevention and knowing that a healthy looking person can have HIV.
(Source: BSS 2005)

Percentage of female and male sex workers reporting the use of a condom with their most recent client: Using male and female respondents who have had sex with commercial partners as a proxy, 70.0% and 60.0%, respectively, reported using condoms
(Source: BSS 2005)

- no data

Percentage of injecting drug users who have adopted behaviours that reduce transmission of HIV, i.e., who avoid sharing equipment and use condoms, in the last 12 months:
Data not available

IMPACT

Percentage of women 15-49 years attending antenatal clinic who are infected with HIV:
Antenatal clinic attendees: 2.1% for HIV1 and 0.8% for HIV2

(Source: 2004 National Sentinel Surveillance Report)

GLOBAL COMMITMENT & ACTIONS

Amount of bilateral & multilateral financial flows (commitments & disbursements) for the benefit of low & middle income countries: US$971,044 for the period January-December 2004

(Source: Interviews with bilateral and multilateral partners)

Amount of public funds for Research and Development of preventive HIV vaccines and microbicides: US$0
As at now (December, 2005) there are no public funds have been committed to the research and
development of HIV vaccines and microbicides
(Source: NAS)

Percentage of trans-national companies which are present in developing countries and which have HIV/AIDS workplace policies and programmes:
15.4% (4 out of 26 companies2)
(Source: GCCI and interviews with companies)

Percentage of international organizations which have workplace policies and programmes:
75.0% (9 out of 12 international organizations)
(Source: TANGO, NAS, and interviews with organizations)

END

The UNDP has worked in partnership with the Gambia Government to combat HIV/AIDS for over 10 years and it put helped to put the disease on the national agenda through the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP). The main aim of the project is to assist policy development and reinforce partnerships and national capacities in a sustainable way that alleviates not just HIV but also poverty. A National AIDS Secretariat was established, and being supported by the World Bank.

The aids awareness campaign involves billboards, aids prevention messages during strategic TV programmes, workshops, seminars and the production of educational materials targeted at all sections of Gambian society.

Today between 35-50 youth and women's groups are supported through the campaign.

Because of the engagement of local musicians and NGOs in the project's execution there is a higher level of awareness in the public at large and particularly among youth groups about the the causes and consequences of HIV/AIDS and STDS.