National AIDS Commission of Liberia 37 posts 0 comments

The first attempt to establish the National AIDS Commission was made in the year 2000. However, it was not until June 2007 that the National AIDS Commission was formally reconstituted with the aim of promoting a more multi sectoral response beyond the health sector. Its purpose is to serve as the primary national body to coordinate, monitor, and mobilize resources for the national response to HIV.

The Commission is chaired by the President of the Republic of Liberia. It aims to promote the active involvement of the private and public sectors and includes all major prevention, care and treatment components, such as HIV prevention among most-at-risk populations, condom promotion, treatment of sexually transmitted infections, voluntary counselling and testing and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission services, blood safety, ARV treatment and treatment of opportunistic infections, and Orphan and Vulnerable Children Support.

The Commission set up a steering committee, which developed a draft legislation and an initial strategic framework for HIV in 2008. The full functioning of the Commission was delayed due to delays in finalizing its legal status. The appointment of an Executive Director in February 2009; the passage into law of the Commission’s Act in2010, and the completion and launch of the HIV and AIDS National Strategic Framework 2010- 2014 marked the beginning of a more effective coordination of a truly multi sectoral response.