Freetown, 14th May, 2026 — Sierra Leone’s fight against HIV is facing a critical challenge as global supply chain disruptions threaten the availability of lifesaving commodities, the National HIV/AIDS Secretariat has warned.
Director General Abdul Rahman Sesay acknowledged progress in diagnosis and treatment but raised alarm over shortages of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and test kits.
“We have stock out and all this has to do with the supply chain issues due to some of the challenges globally,” Sesay said.
Despite an increase in the estimated number of HIV‑positive individuals to 81,000, attributed to better diagnosis and longer survival rates, Sesay highlighted that 86% of those living with HIV are now aware of their status, 87% are on treatment, and 63% are virally suppressed.
However, he cautioned that delays in the delivery of essential commodities have already slowed the implementation of key programmes, making local management increasingly difficult.
The Secretariat commended ongoing efforts to meet global HIV targets but stressed that stronger international cooperation is needed to stabilize supply chains and prevent further interruptions.
This warning underscores the fragile balance between progress and setbacks in Sierra Leone’s HIV response, where global economic shocks continue to ripple into local health systems.
