AIDS Commission Climaxes Two days Stakeholders’ Advocacy Training on Stigma

Congo Town, Liberia, August 30, 2023: The National AIDS Commission of Liberia with support from PEPFAR=Liberia through USAID/Liberia Interagency have climaxed a two day stakeholders’ advocacy training on stigma and discrimination.

The training aimed to strengthen advocacy and the National Response to stigma, discrimination and violence against persons living with HIV and key vulnerable populations.
It was help at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.

The training placed emphasis on creating awareness to improve understanding of stigma, discrimination and advocacy including access to, and uptake of HIV services.

Making remarks at the official opening on Monday, August 28, 2023, the chairperson of the NAC, Madam Theodosia Kolee indicated that the training is a pre conference training geared towards providing tips and broader understanding to stakeholders ahead of the National stigma, discrimination and advocacy conference slated for August 31 to September 1, 2023.

The NAC boss noted that stakeholders are expected to engage with different groups of people during the national conference, therefore, it is important to prepare them for people they will interact with as well as terminologies that will be frequently used during and after the Conference.

She urged participants of the training to be resilient and open minded, while lauding USAID for its continuous support in the National HIV Response.

Also remarking, USAID Program Management Specialist on HIV care and Treatment Titus Kokoi encouraged participants to be opened and actively engage during discussions.

Mr. kokoi expressed gratitude that USAID is collaborating with the commission to discuss and address issues on stigma and discrimination in the country.

Meanwhile, participants at the training have extended gratitude to USAID and the National AIDS Commission for bringing together people of diverse backgrounds to impact knowledge so as to take back to the communities and the society at large.

The participants pleaded with the organizers of the training to ensure that such training are a continuous process while urging females to take the lead in the campaign to end Stigma and discrimination in the country.

The HIV prevalence in Liberia cuerrenly stands at 1.3 percent, however, some communities are still disproportionately affected by HIV.

According to a recent report, HIV prevalence is 18 percent among female sex workers, while 37 percent among men who have sex with men, and 11 percent among transgender people.