HIV/AIDs
Health
The epidemic of HIV/AIDS is apparent and spreading in Puntland. Many young people are at risk of contracting the disease because of the lack of awareness and information. To address this TASS has partnered with UNICEF to educate the Somali community through mass media including radio and Television campaigns.
Since 2009:
- 47 schools and madarasa were trained to educate the community on sexually-transmitted diseases
- more than 3,000 messages were broadcasted on radio and television, reaching more than 300,000
- 22 HIV/AIDs clubs have been established
- 30 campaigns have been launched across Puntland
- more than 200 young people have been educated on HIV/AIDs awareness
HIV screenings have been encrouraged at Mercy TB Centre in Bosaso because of the common link of both HIV and TB. Since 2007, many HIV positive cases have been identified by screening all TB positive patients:
HIV screening 2007
|
Age
|
Patients attended
|
Detected positive cases
|
|
HIV/TB
Co-infection
|
|
|
Female
|
Male
|
Total
|
Female
|
Male
|
TOTAL
|
%
|
Female
|
Male
|
|
>35
|
28
|
34
|
62
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
6.5%
|
1
|
1
|
|
25-34
|
16
|
52
|
68
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1.5%
|
0
|
1
|
|
15-24
|
34
|
71
|
105
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0%
|
0
|
0
|
|
5-14
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0%
|
0
|
0
|
|
<5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0%
|
0
|
0
|
|
TOTAL
|
80
|
158
|
237
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
2.1%
|
1
|
2
|
HIV screening 2008
|
Age
|
Total number of clients attended
|
Detected positive cases
|
|
HIV/TB
Co-infection
|
|
|
Female
|
Male
|
Total
|
Female
|
Male
|
TOTAL
|
%
|
Female
|
Male
|
|
>35
|
40
|
62
|
102
|
5
|
5
|
10
|
9.8%
|
4
|
4
|
|
25-34
|
38
|
68
|
106
|
4
|
3
|
7
|
6.6%
|
2
|
2
|
|
15-24
|
42
|
92
|
134
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
2.9%
|
1
|
2
|
|
5-14
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0%
|
0
|
0
|
|
<5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0%
|
0
|
0
|
|
TOTAL
|
123
|
224
|
347
|
11
|
10
|
21
|
6.1%
|
7
|
8
|
HIV screening 2009
|
Age
|
Total number of clients attended
|
Detected positive cases
|
|
HIV/TB
Co-infection
|
|
|
Female
|
Male
|
Total
|
Female
|
Male
|
TOTAL
|
%
|
Female
|
Male
|
|
>35
|
53
|
97
|
150
|
8
|
10
|
18
|
12.0%
|
5
|
3
|
|
25-34
|
60
|
98
|
158
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
2.5%
|
2
|
1
|
|
15-24
|
49
|
59
|
108
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
3.7%
|
3
|
0
|
|
5-14
|
4
|
5
|
9
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0%
|
0
|
0
|
|
<5
|
2
|
8
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0%
|
0
|
0
|
|
TOTAL
|
168
|
267
|
435
|
14
|
12
|
26
|
6.0%
|
10
|
4
|
HIV/AIDS Awareness in Schools
To date, little is known about the prevalence rate, incidence or even level of public awareness of HIV/AIDs in Somalia. Therefore, emphasis has been put on prevention, which is only possible by raising awareness and educating the population on this killer infection.
TASS has introduced HIV/AIDs awareness campaigns in schools for Somali children to learn about sexually transmitted diseases. Posters and billboards warning of the risks of infections have also been adopted in schools.