Lawless Somalia still has an opportunity to be one of the few countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to avert an HIV/AIDS epidemic of major proportions, the United Nations said Thursday.

A statement issued in Nairobi from UN Development Program (UNDP) Somalia said a latest survey indicates a Somali-wide HIV rate among women attending antenatal care clinics of around 0.9 percent.

This, the UN agency said, is relatively low in comparison to surrounding countries.

"Women, media, youth, men, religious leaders, business people, political leaders and professionals all have a unique strength that they bring to the fight against AIDS," said Elballa Hagona, UNDP Somali country director and chair of the UN theme group on HIV/AIDS.

"Together with the local authorities, UN agencies, local and international NGOs and community based organizations, and especially religious leaders, a critical opportunity exists to generate a society-wide response to HIV/AIDS," said Hagona.

Citing the theme for World AIDS Day 2005 -- "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise." -- the UN said Somalis and their partners must rise to the challenge of countering HIV/AIDS at personal, religious, community, organizational and governmental levels.

"Such unity is crucial to ensure a continuum of prevention, treatment, care and support with the common goal of keeping infection low," Hagona stressed.

He said confronting AIDS is a crucial task for the Transitional Federal Government and it should rise to the challenge and mobilize society so that youth, women and girls who are most vulnerable are equipped to protect themselves from HIV/ AIDS -- a disease which knows no disagreement, clan, faction or political allegiance.

The statement said the UN country team and partners have mobilized resources through the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and others sources which are now being used in a multi-faceted approach to combat HIV/AIDS.

"Among the significant achievements of this effort has been the launch of HIV/AIDS commissions in Northwest Somalia (Somaliland) and Northeast Somalia (Puntland)," said the statement.

It noted that plans are underway to create a coordinating structure for Central/South Somalia.

"The commissions aim to increase and improve coordination for the prevention, treatment, care and support of those infected and affected with by HIV/AIDS," the UN said.

"One of the major challenges is the need to break the silence, and address the denial which has surrounded HIV/AIDS. It is vital that HIV/AIDS becomes visible, stigma is challenged and people living with HIV/AIDS are encouraged to be open about their status, and are free to continue contributing to community life. This requires visionary leadership and significant individual courage," said Leo Kenny, UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Somalia.

"Keeping infection low won't happen unless we break the back of stigma and discrimination and address the needs most of most vulnerable groups and mobile populations," Kenny added.

Source: Xinhua