Your daily Selection of IRIN Africa PlusNews reports, 10/18/2005

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CONTENT:

1 - SOMALIA: Commission to coordinate anti-HIV/AIDS efforts in Puntland

1 - SOMALIA: Commission to coordinate anti-HIV/AIDS efforts in Puntland

HARGEYSA, 18 October (PLUSNEWS) - Authorities in Somalia's self-declared

autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia, launched on Saturday a

commission to coordinate efforts to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The Puntland AIDS Commission (PAC) was established under the office of the

president as a multisectoral partnership comprised of six ministries, civil

society organisations, religious leaders and representatives of people living

with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

" Prevention is our most powerful tool to address this epidemic, " Puntland's

acting President, Hasan Dahir, said during the launch. " It remains critical that

we continue to prioritise prevention through promoting awareness on life skills

and HIV/AIDS education, while also directly addressing behaviour change. "

Elballa Hagona, UN Development Programme country director for Somalia, applauded

the acting president's decision to embark on an HIV/AIDS prevention campaign

while infection rates in the region were relatively low.

A sentinel surveillance study carried out by the UN World Health Organization

and Puntland's health ministry in 2004 showed an overall average HIV prevalence

rate of 1 percent among women attending antenatal clinics. The port town of

Bossaso had a prevalence rate of 0.9 percent, while the rate was 1.4 percent in

Galkaayo and 0.7 percent in Garowe.

" The multisectoral nature of the PAC in building partnerships with civil

society, the private sector and recognizing the absolute crucial role of the

religious leaders, is a proven major ingredient of success in countries that are

making an impact on the HIV/AIDS epidemic, " Hagona said.

" We must transform the Islamic principles and teachings into practices,

especially with regards to value for life and caring for each other, especially

infected women, " he added.

Christian Balslev-Olesen, UNICEF representative for Somalia, underlined the

importance of addressing the needs of the most vulnerable, women and young

people. He added that PAC programmes would have to be proactive in addressing

the potential rapid spread of HIV/AIDS.

Leo Kenny, UNAIDS country coordinator for Somalia, said it was necessary to

build capacities of HIV/AIDS service providers immediately in order to

strengthen their prevention, treatment, care and support efforts.

n Lambert, senior HIV/AIDS advisor for Britain's Department for

International Development, spoke of the importance of bolstering basic health

and education systems and making essential services accessible to everyone.

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