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Somaliland has lowest HIV/AIDS cases in Africa

Interview with Dr. Abdirashid Hashi Abdi, Development Worker, working on HIV / AIDS control program in Somaliland.

Can you tell me about yourself?

I work for International Cooperation for Development (ICD), Somaliland as a Development Worker in the HIV/AIDS control project. I have been working in this project since last June 2002. I am based at Hargeisa Group Hospital.

How serious is the HIV/AIDS situation in Somaliland?

HIV/AIDS has assumed pandemic proportions all over the world. Somaliland is no exception. But we are less affected compared to other African countries. Though infected cases are increasing in the country but the situation is not alarming. If you look at the surveillance and prevalence in the country, we are just above 1% (1.2). If the rate goes more than 5 or 6 percent then there will be problem. I do not think Somaliland will cross this number so soon.

Why are you confident that it won’t escalate 5 – 6 % of the population?

If you look at 1999 surveillance data, the prevalence rate in the year was 0.8% and now in 2004 it is 1.2%. It is not taking off as fast as other African nations do.

Now a days both Government and civil society organizations are taking more positive interest and attitude towards HIV/AIDs control. In general, people are realising and conscious about their health and family health. Government is more vigilant and donor agencies are started supporting Government and Non-government initiatives to control HIV/AIDS in the country.

How competent are Health Service Providers to manage HIV/AIDS cases in the country?

You know HIV/AIDS management in health care prospective is not an easy job. It is not just a management theory it is more than that. Issues like care, treatment, counselling, rehabilitation and rights etc are involved in it. We just can’t think up one addressing issue leaving others behind. It should go holistically and systematically. To provide complete solution we need more training, exposure and experience. There are gaps in skill, knowledge and attitude and within our limited resources we are trying our best.

What Government and other International agencies are currently doing to tackle this?

Government has established 6 sentinel sites in 6 regions of the country to conduct active and passive surveillance. In the coming Parliament Session, Government is going to present National HIV/AIDS control policy. Government, UN and other national and international agencies have set up National HIV/AIDS technical committee in the country to provide support and guidance to the HIV/AIDS initiatives in the country. Along with this Ministry of Health and Labour, Regional Health Offices together with International and national agencies have taken off education and awareness programmes.

Many African countries have started administering Antiretroviral Drugs (ARV) and what about Somaliland?

You know ARV is highly expensive and we need lots of money to start the program. We also need to train our doctors what to prescribe, when to prescribe, whom to prescribe and complications etc. But in the recent progress, UN OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) has come up with a plan to support with ARV to few selected positive cases in the country. This will be available very shortly at the Hargeisa Group Hospital.

What major obstacles do you see in control of HIV/Aids in the country and what do you suggest? 

The major obstacles are inadequate resource availability, inadequate skill and knowledge of health service providers, stigma and attitude of people towards people living with HIV/AIDS victims.

UN, International Governments, Donors should come up with more resources and support for the programme. Education, training, counselling on HIV/AIDS need to be strengthened and streamlined. Involvement and active participation of all institutions and community based organizations in control of HIV/AIDS is highly necessary. General negative attitude towards HIV/AIDS patient need to be changed and we must take HIV/AIDS affected patient like other patients, who needs our care, support and help.