Isatou Marena, President of Society for Women and Aids in Africa The Gambia chapter (SWAAGAM), said HIV/Aids pandemic is a global menace that is crippling the development efforts of many countries.

Mrs. Marena made this remark at the opening ceremony of a three day training of trainers (TOT) workshop for Community Service Organisations (CSOs) and government officers on human rights and HIV/Aids issues held at the Paradise Suites Hotel.

The SWAAGAM President said HIV/Aids are crippling the developmental effort of many countries. She noted that in 2004, global AIDS prevalence hit 39.4 million with an estimated 3.1 million AIDS death. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most affected with about 25 million people living with HIV/Aids.

Women and girls accounted for 58% or 133 million of the total infections in sub- Saharan Africa. She also mentioned that the Gambia joins four other countries to implement this very important project to fight the HIV epidemic. SWAAGAM working in over 40 countries with 30,000 memberships.

She added that SWAAGAM will open her doors to other stakeholders for collaboration in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Other speakers at the workshop Includes Katim S Touray, consultant, Nuha Cessay UN AIDS Coordinator and UN Representatives.