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HELP THE YOUTH JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS, UNICEF APPEALS TO SOMALI LEADERS
Nairobi, Monday, 1 December 2003 - Somali leaders are presented with a critical opportunity to
generate a society-wide response to preventing HIV/AIDS in their country and should be devoting
their energies to supporting youth in tackling the epidemic, Jesper Morch, Representative UNICEF
Somalia said today in Somalia on the occasion of World AIDS Day.
In Somalia the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate remains relatively low - unlike many of the surrounding
countries in sub-Saharan Africa which demonstrate the highest HIV rates in the world. In the face of
this low HIV prevalence rate Somalia provides a setting in which an effective comprehensive and
nationwide prevention programme - put in place now - has the potential to achieve future reduction in
the number of HIV infections.
"Leaders must rise to this huge challenge and mobilize the youth, not to fight political battles, but to
spearhead the fight for their own survival, and that of Somalia against AIDS," said Morch, noting that
young adults are the biggest target of the pandemic, killing people at the time when they are in the
most productive, and reproductive phases of their lives.
Addressing a meeting for community leaders in Northeast Somalia (‘Puntland’) Morch stated, "AIDS is
an issue on which there can be no disagreement. It knows no clan, no faction nor political allegiance.
Community mobilization is at the heart of all meaningful responses to the pandemic, and young
people are the key actors in implementing this. Research has shown that, regardless of the stage of
the epidemic in a country, the top priority is to invest in young people."
Quoting a recent statement from Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS he continued, "In every
country where HIV transmission has been reduced, it has been among young people that the most
significant reductions have occurred." He noted that leaders in Somali society, whether in
government, in the mosques, in schools or in civil society, have a responsibility to the coming
generation and an urgent role to play in encouraging debate, providing young people with the right
information on prevention, and promoting healthy and responsible lifestyles.
On this front some action is under way. A UNICEF-assisted training programme for youth groups,
known as the Leadership and Organizational Development (LOD) programme, has been holding
workshops throughout 2003 where discussion of the basic facts about HIV/AIDS is on the agenda.
As an extremely complex development challenge there is however, no one single intervention which
can stop the HIV/AIDS pandemic Morch stated, continuing, "A multifaceted response is crucial, where
links are forged between all actors in society, making a compelling argument for commitment by
multiple sectors in government to improve services and empower communities to take action."
Enhancing community capacity to address the pandemic is a critical component of UNICEF
programming in Somalia. Measures to prevent rapid escalation of the pandemic have been set out in
United Nations Children’s Fund Telephone 254-20 623950/53/55
Somalia Support Centre
Facsimile 254-20 520640
P.O. Box 44145
623965
Nairobi, Kenya 00100
www.unicef.org/somalia
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
a Strategic Framework for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS and STIs within Somali
Populations, developed in 2003 through a participatory process involving Somali community
members, authorities, civil society, international and local NGOs and UN agencies, including UNICEF.
As a joint vision the Strategic Framework establishes agreed action plans for HIV/AIDS response
measures, to be implemented by communities with the support of international partners.
A further dimension in designing the HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention and control measures which
will have impact in Somalia is the need to break the silence and denial which has surrounded the
disease. "Progress is not possible unless AIDS becomes visible, unless stigma is challenged and
people living with HIV/AIDS are encouraged to be open about their status, and are free to continue
contributing to community life. This requires resolute leadership at all levels and significant individual
courage."
Returning to the theme of eradicating stigma and discrimination on which he spoke in Somalia on
World AIDS Day in 2002, Morch referred to the bravery of Amina Hussein Aden, the first HIV-positive
woman to freely acknowledge and speak without shame about being seropositive. He reported that
sadly, Amina whose frank-speaking was influential in heightening awareness about the disease,
succumbed and died recently after a long struggle against her illness.
"Partnerships are the foundation for all efforts to combat the epidemic" Morch stated. Among donors
offering support to UNICEF-assisted HIV/AIDS response activities in Somalia are the governments of
Denmark and the Netherlands, USAID, Swedish SIDA, and Japan. In concluding Morch reaffirmed the
commitment of UNICEF, through the provisions for enhanced programming set out in its new five year
Country Programme launching in 2004, to work actively on all possible fronts in Somalia on control
and prevention of HIV/AIDS.
For further information contact
Julia Spry-Leverton, Communication Officer, UNICEF Somalia. Tel: +254 -20-623958. Mobile: +254-721-804498. Email: jspryleverton@unicef.org. Fax: +254-20-623965/520640.
Robert Kihara, Assistant Communication Officer, UNICEF Somalia: Tel: +254-20-623958. Mobile +254-721244-800. Email: rkihara@unicef.org. Fax: +254-20-623965/520640.
Notes to Editors:
The 'Strategic Framework for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS and STIs within Somali
Populations' was the result of a joint effort spearheaded by the Somalia Aid Co-ordination Body of
which UNICEF is a member. It was funded with contributions from the Royal Netherlands Government,
UNAIDS and UNICEF. Copies are available electronically – please contact Communication Officers as
above.
United Nations Children’s Fund Telephone 254-20 623950/53/55
Somalia Support Centre
Facsimile 254-20 520640
P.O. Box 44145
623965
Nairobi, Kenya 00100
www.unicef.org/somalia