Toronto’s Globe and Mail Profiles HIV/AIDS Awareness Group in Somalia

Toronto's Globe and Mail on Monday profiled the HIV/AIDS Awareness and Development Organization, a Xuddur, Somalia-based group that formed last year to promote abstinence and fidelity and encourage HIV testing. Many people in Somalia believe that HIV/AIDS is not a problem in the country, where isolation caused by 14 years of civil war has kept the HIV prevalence at about 1.5% or 2%, which is one of the lowest rates in Africa. However, epidemiologists warn that a 1% prevalence rate indicates an "impending explosion," especially in a country where migration, conflict, female circumcision, and a lack of condom use and education increase the risk of HIV transmission. The country also lacks a health ministry, and media, school and civil society networks to provide HIV/AIDS prevention and education. As a result, HAADO is able to access the small amounts of available HIV/AIDS funding in the country (Nolen, Globe and Mail, 7/25).