By Komba Fillie
The Ministry of Health, in partnership with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), has commissioned a state-of-the-art HIV and wellness hospital in Waterloo, Western Area Rural. The facility, built by AHF, was unveiled as part of national activities marking World AIDS Day 2025 under the global theme: “End AIDS by 2030: Keep the Promise.”
The newly opened two-storey facility marks one of the most significant investments in community health infrastructure in recent years. It is equipped for comprehensive HIV treatment, cervical cancer screening, sexual and reproductive health services, and includes private wards for inpatient HIV care.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Health Dr. Austin Demby described World AIDS Day as a moment to pause routine activities and focus entirely on the HIV/AIDS response. “We have seen dramatic improvements in diagnosis and treatment, but as a nation we still have a lot of work to do,” he stated. “Today is a day of reflection, looking at where we are, what remains to be done, and how we plan for the future.”
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing the country’s HIV burden and accelerating progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Dr. Demby underscored the importance of the new facility, noting that it represents both government ownership and community-centered healthcare. The hospital features fully equipped counselling and testing rooms, private wards, a cervical cancer screening centre, solar-powered systems for reliable electricity, and strengthened WASH infrastructure. “This is a government facility,” he emphasized, “built to serve the people, especially rural communities.”
Country Program Director of AHF, Miatta Jabawai-Kaisamba, said the commissioning is deeply symbolic, coming on a day dedicated to remembering people lost to HIV/AIDS and celebrating those living with the virus. She described the facility as a major advancement for the Waterloo community and beyond, offering free HIV testing and treatment, free cervical cancer screening, free STI management, and free reproductive health services. AHF engineers, she added, will provide continuous maintenance to ensure a safe, clean, and high-quality care environment. “We encourage everyone, residents and non-residents, to make use of these services,” she said.
UNAIDS Country Director Dr. Jane Kaiwo commended Sierra Leone for its progress despite global economic shocks and public health disruptions. She highlighted notable achievements, including a 40% reduction in new infections and a 50% reduction in AIDS-related deaths between 2010 and 2024. “These gains are important,” she said, “but the future of the HIV response must be sustainable.” She called for prioritizing HIV in the national budget, protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, stronger community-led monitoring, integration of HIV into wider healthcare systems, and private sector involvement. “The future of Sierra Leone belongs to young people. Let it be a future free of fear, a future of health, safety, and hope,” Dr. Kaiwo stated.
Executive Director of NETHIPS, Williamiana Sawyer, said World AIDS Day is not just about remembrance but the renewal of collective commitment. She highlighted progress such as expanded access to antiretroviral therapy, stronger community networks, and greater visibility around stigma and discrimination. However, she also outlined key challenges: Sierra Leone has not yet reached the 95–95–95 targets, commodity stockouts threaten consistency of care, youth and key populations remain vulnerable, and rural access remains unequal. Sawyer stressed that community-led monitoring remains the backbone of accountability in the HIV response. “Without strong community-led systems, we risk losing the compass that guides us toward equity and justice in health,” she added.
Director of Disease Prevention & Control at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sulaiman Lorkoh, stated plainly, “The gaps are real, and the urgency is clear.” Presenting the latest national HIV statistics, he stressed the need for action guided by data. Key figures include a national HIV prevalence of 1.7%, with an estimated 81,000 people living with HIV. While there has been a 40% reduction in new infections and a 50% reduction in AIDS-related deaths since 2010, only 87% of people living with HIV know their status, only 86% of diagnosed individuals are on treatment, and only 65% of people on treatment have achieved viral suppression. “This means only 65 out of every 100 people on treatment have the virus under control. The gap is too wide,” he noted.
Dr. Lorkoh revealed that 14 out of every 100 people who know their status are not on medication, prompting the Ministry to introduce a national Back-to-Care Initiative to trace and support clients who have defaulted. He also warned that 68% of HIV-related stigma in Sierra Leone is internalized, meaning people often fear judgment and avoid care. “No child should be born HIV-positive. Leadership, innovation, and accountability must guide the response,” he concluded.
During the event, Dr. Demby also launched the National HIV Surge Operational Strategic Plan, a multi-year roadmap designed to accelerate progress toward 98–98–98 targets. Its five strategic pillars are: Expedited Case Identification and Linkage to Care; a Nationwide Back-to-Care Initiative; Strengthened Viral Load Monitoring; the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission; and District and Community-Led Implementation. “This plan is not just a document,” Dr. Demby declared. “It is a commitment to act with urgency and unity.”
Across speeches from government, AHF, SOLTHIS, World Vision, NETHIPS, the World Health Organization, and other partners, one message echoed clearly: Ending AIDS by 2030 is possible, but only with sustained investment, strong community systems, and unwavering national commitment. As the country continues its push toward epidemic control, the commissioning of the AHF wellness centre in Waterloo stands as a symbol of collaboration, progress, and renewed hope.
