It went on to state that “in collaboration with the MoHS, Statistics Sierra Leone and partners hope to conduct a new DHS this year, 2018 in which HIV will be included.” The release added that “it is only after the result of that study that any new data on HIV and AIDS prevalence will be released from the Secretariat.”

It added that “although the Secretariat is not complacent with the result as it stands, it is however not in the interest of anyone to give false, unfounded, distorting and alarming figures about the epidemic in the country as this will only create unnecessary panic among the population.”

In the meantime, the Secretariat reiterated that it is requesting every Sierra Leonean to help prevent the spread of HIV by going for free HIV test; spreading correct information about HIV; using condoms correctly and consistently; taking ARVs regularly if infected and stopping stigmatization.