NEW YORK, 9 April 2009: UNAIDS estimates that one per cent of adults in Senegal are living with hiv. In 1992, at a time when the full impact of aids on society was only beginning to be recognised in the country, the Catholic church in Senegal founded “SIDA Service,” an organization to support and care for people living with or affected by hiv..
Since those early days, and continuing today, it actively seeks to change peoples’ attitudes of stigma towards, and discrimination against, people living with hiv.
SIDA Service has grown to 500 volunteers and employees with 23 branches across Senegal as well as a presence in neighbouring Guinea Bissau and Gambia. Its Dakar health centre was the first in the country to offer hiv testing that is free, voluntary and confidential. In addition to voluntary counselling and testing and support to people living with hiv, SIDA Service also cares for orphans and vulnerable children.
While in Senegal this week, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé visited the SIDA Service’s health centre which is making a significant the contribution towards Senegal’s goal of universal access to hiv treatment, prevention, care and support. His visit took place on Wednesday where he had an opportunity to listen to those who use the services.
The medical team at the centre offers a range of services to the local community including hiv treatment, treatment of opportunistic infections, gynaecological health and pre-natal services. There is a laboratory for biomedical analysis and an on-site pharmacy. In addition to health care, food support is available and staff and volunteers offer time to listen as well as give counselling, psycho-social support and spiritual care to any in need.
SIDA Service has also led in promoting dialogue within faith communities on aids. It has co-organized a number of important conferences and gatherings of religious communities on aids in Africa and was a founding member of the National Alliance of Religious and Medical Experts against AIDS in 1999.
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