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Gambia
In Gambia, the newly developed National HIV/AIDS Policy 2022-2027 intends to accelerate progress towards the 95-95-95 prevention and treatment targets and the removal of societal and legal barriers preventing people from accessing HIV and social services. In 2022, the Joint Team made significant contributions to strengthening HIV prevention and testing services with the development of new operational guidelines and differentiated service delivery models for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HIV testing services as well as procurement of 724 000 pieces of male and female condoms and 100 000 HIV testing kits (UNFPA, UNAIDS Secretariat). The new HIV testing guidelines now integrate innovative approaches, including index testing, HIV-self testing and regency testing. During the World AIDS Day commemoration, 110 000 people across the country accessed HIV testing and counselling services through various community outreach initiatives (UNAIDS Secretariat).
The First Lady of Gambia officially launched the Education Plus initiative to expand HIV prevention services and empower adolescent girls and young women using secondary education as an entry point (UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women, UNESCO, UNAIDS Secretariat). The initiative aims to provide a holistic support package for adolescent girls and young women, including comprehensive sexuality education and information on sexual and reproductive health’s and rights including HIV prevention, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, and economic security and empowerment through school-to-work transitions.