Dr. Kazimbwe who doubles as member of the Championship HIV-free Generation in Africa was speaking on Tuesday during the commemoration of the world AIDS Day in Kenema, eastern Sierra Leone. She said sex education should be a key subject in school.
She said that HIV-free generation in Africa has been in existence for over fifteen years ago; at a time when the disease was in a high spate in the eastern and southern African countries.
The organization’s leadership comprises of former heads of states and other prominent Africans, who have the continent at heart; with the key aim of sharing their experiences and supporting g the younger generation in making sure that African moved forward.
“The most important resource in any country”, she explained, “is not the natural resources, but rather a healthy, happy and companionate people, who believe in what they are doing is for the love of the continent”.
She said no goal would succeed without another goal, and that people must recognize the dignity of human beings and refrain from stigmatization.
Dr. Kazimbwe suggested that what is lacking in the education structures of school going children is the failure by school authorities to teach these kids about sex.
She therefore urged the Government of Sierra Leone to make good use of funding allocated them for the prevention of HIV/AIDS. She implored stakeholders to be proactive in educating their various communities on HIV/AID and to keep away from stigmatisation of persons positively living with the virus.
In his keynote address while officially launching the National Strategic Plan on behalf of the President Koroma, the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofana expressed Government’s commitment in curbing the disease for it not to be seen as a threat in Sierra Leone.
The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day, “Fast track to end AIDS, get tested for HIV”, the Minister said, speaks volumes by virtue of the experiences learnt from fighting the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the country.
He suggested the AIDS epidemic will be a thing of the past by 2030.
L-R Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health and former Ugandan VP
He said as part of their government effort to supporting the National AIDS Secretariat, the government would be allocating one billion seven hundred million Leones to them to kicks start their operations.
The Minister of Health and Sanitation noted that the stopping of the disease lies in the hands of every Sierra Leonean. “The government is doubling efforts to fight HIV/AIDS and would endeavour to give free healthcare to the kids gratis.