Sierra Leone Records 73% Drop in HIV/AIDS Deaths

Sierra Leone Records 73% Drop in HIV/AIDS Deaths
Sierra Leone has recorded strides in the fight against HIV and AIDS, recording a 73% reduction in AIDS-related deaths, according to the Director of Disease Prevention and Control, Dr. Sulaiman Lakoh.
Speaking at a Media Breakfast event held on November 29, 2025, in honor of World AIDS Day, Lakoh shared the encouraging news that the number of deaths due to AIDS had fallen dramatically from 4,000 annually to 1,084, a decline of over 2,900 deaths in just a few years.
Dr. Lakoh noted that this achievement was part of broader progress in the country’s HIV response. The national HIV prevalence currently stands at 1.7%, meaning that approximately 2 out of every 100 people are living with the virus.
In addition to the reduction in deaths, Sierra Leone has also seen a 43% drop in mother-to-child transmission of HIV between 2022 and 2025, a milestone Dr. Lakoh described as “highly encouraging.”
“These figures show that progress is possible when science, policy, and community action work together,” Dr. Lakoh said. “But we must remain vigilant as the fight is far from over.”