The transitional government of Somalia on Tuesday launched an AIDS commission to help curb the spread of the disease in south and central regions of the Horn of Africa nation.

A statement from the UN children's fund UNICEF said the South Central AIDS Commission (SCAC) which was launched in Baidoa, south Somalia is expected to coordinate activities in 11 regions of central south Somalia.

"We recognize that HIV/AIDS can derail our efforts to harness our human resources for the reconstruction of our country," said Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gedi according to the state.

"Somalis everywhere must be educated on how to protect themselves from the virus, but even more importantly, we must support our brothers and sisters who already are infected so that they are cared for and are not marginalized," said Gedi.

The commission will now be able to work towards a coordinated HIV/AIDS response, with an integrated prevention, treatment, care and support plan, as well as a single monitoring and evaluation framework.

"This will also facilitate resource mobilization and most effective use of current resources from the Global Fund on HIV/ AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), UN, DFID and other donor resources," said UNICEF Representative Christian Balslev-Olesen.

"This is an opportunity for all of us to work together to stop and even reverse to spread of HIV/AIDS among Somali men, women and children. We cannot fail in this or else the consequences will be devastating, as we have seen in other parts of the world," Balslev said.

UNDP Country Director and UN HIV/AIDS Theme Group Chair, Elballa Hagona, emphasized the need for an all-inclusive approach to the response.

"The leadership demonstrated by President Abdullahi Yusuf in addressing HIV/AIDS even before the establishment of the Transitional Federal Institutions is to be commended," said Hagona.

"It is important that there is a multi-sectoral response to HIV/ AIDS that includes the civil society and particularly the religious leaders who have an immense responsibility in providing guidance on the care and support of those that are infected," he added.

Source: Xinhua