The minister of Health and Sanitation Mrs. Zainab Hawa Bangura on Tuesday 21st August 2012 launched the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory (HIV and other infectious disease) and the Inauguration of the National Surveillance and Laboratory Technical working group at Lakka in Freetown.

Launching the Reference Laboratory, Mrs. Zainab Bangura said that for far too long the importance of an effective laboratory has not been integrated into the health sector. Sierra Leone she said has not been able to do much in that direction but with the determination of the government a quality referral laboratory is now up and running.

The newly appointed UNAIDS Country Coordinator  (UCC) for Sierra Leone, Dr. Job Sagbohan  accompanied by members of the Country Team made a familiarization visit to the National AIDS Secretariat on Wednesday 15^th August 2012  to get first hand information on the national HIV response.

The Team was received by Dr. Brima Kargbo and Heads of Unit of the secretariat.

H.E. President Koroma addressing NAC members 7-08-2013

His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has said at the 7^th National AIDS Commission (NAC) meeting held at state house on 23^rd July 2013 that Sierra Leone has made significant progress towards universal access to HIV/AIDS services as well as meeting the MDG target on HIV/AIDS by 2015.He however noted that mobilization of domestic resources was very much crucial to sustain the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country.

“Our coverage rate on treatment for adult and children infected with HIV rose from 33% in 2010 to about 52% in 2012. Treatment among pregnant HIV positive women increased from 47% in 2011 to 96% in 2012. We have also witnessed recorded increased survival rate among people infected with the disease from 83% in 2010 to 92.6% in 2012”. President Koroma disclosed.

The National AIDS Secretariat on 1st August 2012 bid farewell to the out-going M&E Adviser Mr. Chibwe Lwamba of the United Nation AIDS. In a short ceremony held at the NAS 2 conference hall, the Director of NAS Dr. Brima Kargbo thanked Mr. Lwamba for his selfless service and support in the Nation Response in the fight against AIDS in Sierra Leone. He said that if NAS could stand tall of it achievements so far was because of one of the ‘three core principles’:  ‘One Monitoring and Evaluation Framework’ to which Mr. Lwamba has contributed significantly.