Gambian health minister calls for an end to HIV stigma
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Kerr Fatou
Gambian Health Minister Ahmadou Lamin Samateh is calling for an end to discrimination against people living with HIV. He estimates that 25,000 people are affected in The Gambia and says about 70% of those diagnosed are receiving antiretroviral treatment, according to his answers in the National Assembly.
Gambian Health Minister Ahmadou Lamin Samateh on Wednesday called for an end to the stigma faced by people living with HIV and said they should be treated with dignity and given care and support, Kerr Fatou reports. Speaking at the National Assembly, he asked that HIV be treated as a public health issue rather than a reason for discrimination.
The minister estimates that 25,000 people in The Gambia are living with HIV. Adult prevalence is about 1.3%. More than two-thirds of those affected know their status, and about 70% of those diagnosed are receiving antiretroviral treatment. Just over half of people living with the virus have achieved viral suppression, which reduces the risks of illness and sexual transmission when the viral load remains undetectable.
The Ministry of Health has expanded differentiated care, designed to tailor follow-up to patients’ needs, to 77 facilities. It has also introduced community-based treatment refills and HIV self-testing. In 2026, 60 peer educators and community counsellors were trained to support treatment adherence, encourage testing and combat stigma.
