The National Fund for the Fight against AIDS (FNLS) has called for stronger domestic efforts to combat HIV/AIDS following the gradual withdrawal of United States financial support.
N’Guessan Ferdinand, head of the FNLS delegation, made the appeal on Monday, August 11, during an awareness-raising meeting at the Séguéla prefecture. The event brought together local authorities and community members to discuss strategies for sustaining the fight against the virus.
“The freeze on American funding creates a gap that we must imperatively fill with our own resources. It is time for Côte d’Ivoire to take charge of its own affairs,” Mr. N’Guessan said, stressing the urgency of strengthening the country’s financial autonomy in this critical health battle.
The FNLS outlined plans to structure resource mobilization through local committees. “If the AIDS committee does not exist in Séguéla, we will create one. If it does exist, we will strengthen it so that it can fully play its role,” Mr. N’Guessan explained. These committees are expected to coordinate community actions and develop partnerships with public and parapublic services, including initiatives such as selling stamps to generate funding.
HIV prevalence in the Worodougou region, particularly in Séguéla, remains a concern, with 2.6% of the population infected—964 men and more than 1,700 women. Nationally, around 47,000 people live with the virus, contributing to the 39 million cases recorded worldwide, according to FNLS data.
The Fund emphasised the importance of collective engagement. “AIDS is not the concern of one person, but of everyone,” Mr. N’Guessan said, urging the active participation of local authorities, communities, and citizens to create a coordinated response capable of slowing the virus’s spread.
This initiative represents a pivotal step in redefining HIV/AIDS strategies in Côte d’Ivoire, focusing on community resilience and national health sovereignty, as the country seeks to reduce reliance on international aid while maintaining progress in public health.
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