HIV Higher Among Gay Men, Female Sex Workers In Gambia

Health Minister Dr Ahmad Lamin Samateh has revealed that men who have sex with fellow men are among the highest contractors of HIV and AIDs in The Gambia.

According to Dr Samateh, a total of 25,000 people are estimated to be living with HIV, with the national adult prevalence standing at 1.3 percent.

The minister said of this total, the highest rate is recorded among key populations such as men who have sex with men, female sex workers, and people who use drugs.

Samateh who was addressing lawmakers yesterday on the current national statistics of HIV, added that more than two-thirds of those affected are aware of their status and around 70 percent of those diagnosed are on antiretroviral therapy.

However only over half of those tracked have achieved viral suppression which reflects the challenges with adherence and retention.

The Member for Latrikunda Sabiji asked whether the 25,000 affected are still active in sex life and the minister replied that he does not know that.

On whether his ministry forwarded cases of people affected through same sex activities for legal remedy since homosexuality is illegal in this country, Minister Samateh said his role is to ensure health service provision reaches the entire population of this country and not issues dealing with legality and illegality of same sex, saying that is the mandate of some other entities.

Asked to give specific records at hospitals where HIV transmission was established through same sex, the minister responded that “some of these issues are very sensitive” and may have health impacts such as driving people away from seeking medical care.  “It is important to treat HIV issues as sicknesses and illnesses that affect human beings just like other illnesses. They need to be integrated and supported irrespective of the source through which it is acquired,” he said.