Somaliland’s Deputy President Abdirahman Sayli’i led the country in celebrating the World Aids Day on December 1.
On Tuesday, the breakaway northern region organized an event to mark the day when the world remembers those who have been affected by the AIDS scourge.
Several top government officials accompanied the Deputy President as he led the country in marking the solemn occasion.
Hinda Hirsi Qani, the Minister of Labor, and Khalil Abdilahi Ahmed, the Minister of Religious Affairs, were among senior government officials to accompany Sayli’i at the event.
Several officials of the National AIDS Commission were also at the event.
Abdishakur Ismail Mumin, the Chairman of the National AIDS Commission, gave a report on the organization’s activities.
Mumin said that 2,500 people in Somaliland had been tested for HIV/AIDS.
Out of this, 119 people tested positive.
The National AIDS Commission Chairperson said that this represented 5 percent of the total population.
Countrywide, Mumin said that roughly 5,500 people in Somaliland currently live with HIV/AIDS around the country.