By: Mohamed Sahr
Marking a major milestone in Sierra Leone’s health sector, the Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, has officially launched the Sierra Leone Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (SiLPHIA) 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen the fight against HIV/AIDS using evidence-based data, advancing the country’s progress toward achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals.
The 95-95-95 vision aims for 95% of people living with HIV to know their status, 95% of those diagnosed to be on treatment and 95% of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Demby emphasized that SiLPHIA represents a boost in Sierra Leone’s response to the HIV epidemic. “This survey will provide confidential and accurate information about individuals affected by HIV. We have access to the best HIV and AIDS treatment available globally,” he stated.
The Minister urged Sierra Leoneans to know their HIV status, noting that the country has the necessary medications to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus. He also affirmed that Sierra Leoneans are central to the collection, analysis, and contextualization of the survey data.
Professor Foday Sahr, Executive Director of the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), described SiLPHIA as Sierra Leone’s first-ever national HIV survey of the general population. “The survey will collect real data from households in the Western Area, identifying how many people are living with HIV, how many are on treatment, and how many have the virus under control,” he explained.
Prof. Sahr highlighted that this approach is essential for tracking progress toward the 95-95-95 targets. “SiLPHIA will provide an honest and accurate picture of where Sierra Leone truly stands in achieving these goals,” he added.
The NPHA Executive Director further noted that, with support from the Ministry of Health, the survey can be conducted with purpose and precision. The field survey began on March 12, 2026, with 18 teams visiting households across 127 communities in Western Urban and Rural areas. To date, 215 households have been visited, 607 people interviewed, and 519 blood specimens collected for laboratory testing.
Eric Nzirakaindi Ikoona, representing ICAP affirmed that SiLPHIA 2026 is Sierra Leone’s first population-based HIV impact assessment. “This is not a routine program report; it is the gold standard of HIV surveillance. For the first time, we will know the number of people living with HIV, how many are on treatment, and how many have achieved viral suppression in Western Area the region with the highest estimated HIV prevalence in the country. These numbers drive strategy and save lives,” he said.
ICAP has partnered closely with the NPHA, the Ministry of Health, and the US CDC throughout every phase of SiLPHIA from protocol development and ethical approvals to laboratory renovations at Lakka and ODCH, as well as training over 190 Sierra Leonean professionals and mobilizing community workers who are the backbone of the survey.
