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Background Information:
In 2000 The
Gambia signed a loan agreement worth $15 million from the World Bank for
the carrying out of an
HIV / AIDS Rapid Response Project (HARRP).
This project came into force in 2001 and is focused on increasing the national response to
the disease.
As part of the structure of the project a National AIDS Council
(NAC)
and National AIDS Secretariat (NAS) have been established under
the Office of the President.
Under the funding of this project, the Government will implement
pre-emptive responses to
tackle the issues related to HIV/AIDS through its relevant
Departments of State, civil organisations and the general
population. HARRP is, therefore, seen as a
multi-component response to
HIV / AIDS by:
• maintaining the current low levels
of the epidemic;
• reducing
its spread and mitigating its effects; and
• increasing access to prevention
services as well as care and support for those infected and
affected by the disease.
It is comprised of a team of specialists, including a Monitoring
and Evaluation
Officer. The NAS reports directly to the NAC.
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