“After 25 years in the struggle against AIDS, I am still hopeful that we can win the war on HIV. I believe that it is possible to have an AIDS-free City.
ARCAD-SIDA is the only structure that provides care to persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Mali. It was founded in 1994. Its mission is to help control the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the general population and amongst the most vulnerable populations. By the end of December 2017, ARCADSIDA through its PEC sites, recorded 23,208 patients regularly undergoing treatment. 21,514, that is 92.7% of the people infected, were under ARV treatment.
My advice to young people and to all women in Mali is to protect themselves and to prevent their children from getting infected with HIV and AIDS. To achieve that, we should more than ever get girls into school and empower women. All pregnant women in Mali must accept to undergo screening so that they can have healthy and AIDS-free children. Antiretroviral treatment should be easily available to all women tested HIV positive because these drugs are effective and free everywhere in Mali."
