Assembly calls on health ministry to decentralise communicable diseases services |20 October 2022

There is a great need for the government through the Ministry of Health to decentralise the different services, treatment and care provided by the communicable diseases and control unit which is currently situated in the Yellow Roof building of the Seychelles Hospital.

This is expected to encourage more people to come forward to undergo a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test, make people more at ease and feel more in confidence and without the feeling of being stigmatised when accessing other HIV/Aids related services and treatment, follow-ups as well as services for other sexually transmitted diseases.

It is through a motion tabled in the National Assembly yesterday by MNA for Roche Caïman Audrey Vidot that National Assembly members from both parties unanimously approved the proposition.

Presenting the motion MNA Vidot noted that Seychelles has made a lot of progress in terms of prevention and treatment of HIV and Aids since the United Nations (UN) declaration on the HIV epidemic in 2001 and since then Seychelles has been engaged in a series of initiatives to ensure that the country gives importance and remains committed to the different prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programmes.

A national strategic plan for HIV/Aids for 2005 to 2009 followed aimed at giving the country guidance on HIV/Aids.

“But like other countries Seychelles also encountered different challenges in its fight for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation against the virus. You will therefore all agree that it is time to have serious dialogues, consultations in order to adopt new approaches to strengthen prevention and take collective decisions in the interest of our people in order to see a decrease of infection among the population,” MNA Vidot remarked.

She noted that a lot of emphasis should also be placed on the rehabilitation of those people on treatment as it is sad to say that at present there is a lot of resistance among people to come forward to be tested and this is because of fear of stigmatisation.

While she said that society recognises the support of civil society bodies, MNA Vidot noted that they too have encountered a lot of challenges in their efforts. She has called on the population to be more responsible and come forward to be tested and know their status.

She noted that decentralising the services offered by the communicable diseases and control unit (CDCU) will encourage more people to come forward to access the services and reduce stigmatisation.

Members of both parties welcomed the proposition, noting that people will be more at ease accessing the services in other health centres.

Some members highlighted the need to have enough manpower, equipment and enough education and outreach programmes to encourage and educate people in the communities to come forward to access the services when they are decentralised into their communities and regions.

Marie-Anne Lepathy