Mr Osho Coker,Secretary to the President

President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has said in a nationwide broadcast that HIV and AIDS would continue to be one of the key issues in his Government's development agenda in the Agenda for Prosperity. The President gave this assurance in his nationwide broadcast message as President of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the National HIV/AIDS Commission to commemorate World AIDS Day on Saturday 1st December 2012.

On the 28th August 2012, the newly appointed UNAIDS Country Coordinator to Sierra Leone Dr. Job Sagbohan paid a courtesy call to Her Excellency, The First Lady of The Republic of Sierra Leone Madam Sia Nyama Koroma at her residence at Hill Station. He was accompanied and introduced by Dr. Brima Kargbo, the Director   of The National AIDS Secretariat (NAS) and by Mr. Bockari Samba, the UNAIDS Programme Officer.

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.