The HIV/AIDS Prevention Program Unit of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAFHAPP) on Monday organised a leadership sensitisation workshop for personnel of the Gambia Armed Forces at the Corinthia Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.

The program was geared towards enlightening participants on the importance of leadership particularly with regards to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Speaking at the occasion, the American plenipotentiary to The Gambia, Barry Wells noted that HIV/AIDS constitutes a pandemic that is decimating a good number of militaries across the African continent.  In many countries, he added, it is these military forces that are behind their own destruction because many see the spread of this virus as a public health issue that does not directly affect the defence structure.

He then noted that it is this view that will continue to allow this virus to "eat away at military forces around the world, leaving borders unprotected, security  in jeopardy and the people of our nations vulnerable.'' Ambassador Wells further indicated that the actions and leadership of those in positions of power can drastically impact on the behavioural change the military needs to defend itself against this deadly disease.  
He went further to call on the army to promote the teaching of HIV/AIDS amongst themselves so that they can be armed with the information to protect themselves and the people of the country from being infected with the virus.

Deputising for the chief of defence staff, Lieutenant Colonel Yankuba Drammeh spoke at length about the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on society, noting that the disease is crippling the very fabric of the country's economic and national security. He also highlighted the rising effects of the HIV/AIDS phenomenon at the international level and the different strategies that the international community should put in place in order to contain the expansion of the pandemic.  

Lt. Colonel Drammeh seized the opportunity to re-affirm the strong commitment of the Gambia Armed Forces to increase the level of awareness among its members and the populace.