Kolda remains a region where the indicators are red, according to the Director of the regional hospital, in the context of the transmission of HIV-Aids. An observation reinforced by the Director of the Kolda Medical Region, Dr Yaya Baldé, who informs that the prevalence is 1.5 in this area, higher than the national average which is 0.3.
The transmission of HIV-Aids in the Kolda region is very worrying. According to the health authorities of this locality, the indicators are red, with a prevalence of 1.5; much higher than the national figure which stands at 0.3. For the Director of the regional hospital, Dr Fallou Niang, Kolda retains a particularity due to its geographical position, bordering three countries, which increases transmission but also makes treatment difficult. “This is a region where we really need to draw inspiration from a community strategy. But, beyond that, there are cultural and social realities that will have to be deciphered; we need to reach out to the populations, to perhaps understand what are the blocking factors in this or that aspect, and to carry out communication, information and awareness-raising in matters of health.”
For the management of HIV cases, in addition to the outpatient treatment unit, the regional hospital also receives cases. For Dr. Niang, “as a hospital, we constitute the last line of defense in terms of prevention in the region. At the same time, we provide a certain coverage, because we receive populations coming from the Gambia, the (two) Guineas. It is extremely important, the social experience of people living with HIV, because HIV is first and foremost a disease, in quotes, stigmatizing, in relation to our cultural connotation. Now, we, as a hospital, have the entire system put in place to take care of them.», informed Dr Niang. And to add: “we have a social service which actively works with other actors in the region. The latter implement strategies before integrating at the population level. But also, there is free care and all other assessments”.
On the methods put in place to reduce the infection, the Regional Director of Health informed that the preventive cause, which he wanted to be recommended, was above all the use of condoms in all matters involving sexual contact. risk. “You know that this condom not only prevents any sexually transmitted infection, but also prevents pregnancy. It’s a bit like the notion of double protection. The weight of condom use is decreasing, due to lack of awareness because there is no promotion being done to further encourage populations to adhere to it. said Dr. Baldé.
Remember that this meeting was held as part of a tour to Kolda yesterday, Wednesday November 20, 2024, initiated by the National Council to Fight AIDS (Cnls) and the Association of Journalists in Health, Population and Development.
Denise ZAROUR MEDANG
