Gambian youth face a growing HIV risk due to complacency, warns Dr Ismail D. Badjie, Founder and CEO of Innovarx Global Health.
Speaking to Senigambia media on the country’s HIV prevention landscape, Dr Badjie emphasises that while treatment options have improved, the perception that HIV is no longer a serious threat is putting a new generation at risk.
“The visible suffering from HIV has diminished because treatment works,” he explains. “But this success is deceptive. Young people who did not witness the devastating impact of AIDS in previous decades may underestimate the danger. HIV is manageable, not gone.”
According to the 2024 National AIDS Secretariat report, only 64% of people living with HIV in The Gambia know their status. That leaves approximately 9,000 individuals unaware they are infected and potentially transmitting the virus. Young women aged 25-29 are the hardest hit, with new infections at the highest rate in the country.
Dr Badjie outlines key prevention strategies: consistent condom use, regular HIV testing, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for high-risk individuals, and adherence to treatment for those living with HIV.
“Knowing your status is the single most powerful act of self-care,” he says. He also stresses the importance of addressing myths about HIV, including misconceptions that casual contact can’t transmit the virus, or that HIV only affects certain “types” of people.
Cross-border dynamics further complicate prevention efforts. The Gambia shares tight social and economic ties with Senegal, where fluctuations in HIV prevalence can quickly affect local transmission rates.
Dr Badjie calls for stronger regional collaboration, including shared surveillance, joint health outreach in border areas, and mobile-friendly service delivery to ensure continuity of treatment for mobile populations.
He also highlighted the importance of community and faith leaders in reducing stigma.
“Imams, pastors, and family members can shape attitudes that encourage testing, treatment adherence, and support for those living with HIV,” he says.
Dr Badjie concluded with a call to action for policymakers and the public alike. “We have the tools and knowledge to protect ourselves. Ignoring HIV now risks undoing decades of progress,” he cautions all and sundry, saying: “The choice is ours – prevention, awareness, and action can safeguard our youth and end AIDS in The Gambia by 2030.”
