Focal Point HIV/SIDA and Migration for West Africa

This contribution has served as IOM co-funding for a position for an HIV/AIDS focal point for West Africa. UNAIDS matched the IOM contribution for salary and travel, allowing a one-year commitment in the region for the focal point. To address the link between migration and HIV/AIDS, a cooperation agreement was signed between IOM and UNAIDS in 1999. IOM and UNAIDS have worked together to develop mechanisms to share knowledge and to advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention and care for migrant populations, as well as to initiate specific projects of action in the field. In its initial stages, this project will serve Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Mali and Senegal, with the intention to expand to other West African countries over time.

The number of people affected by HIV and AIDS has increased at a particularly alarming rate in sub-Saharan Africa, where political instability and socio-economic precariousness combine to force people to move internally or internationally.

The role of the HIV/AIDS focal point has been to: (1) develop a regional strategy and programme for HIV/AIDS prevention, mitigation and access to care for migrants and mobile populations in the West African region; (2) advocate for the integration of HIV/AIDS issues into ongoing migration activities, and migration issues into ongoing HIV/AIDS activities; (3) compile information and serve as a technical resource; and (4) develop sustainable follow-up projects with the governments and agencies concerned.

The project has followed a similar strategy of previous IOM/UNAIDS initiatives in the SADC region and in the Western Balkans.