Status of the epidemic
According to the latest UNAIDS Report, the prevalence rate among adults aged between 15 and 49 years was 7.9% in Gabon. It is estimated that 60 000 people, including 3 900 children, are living with HIV.
The most badly affected populations are concentrated in the urban attraction poles:Libreville (Estuary), Port-Gentil (Ogooué-Maritime), Franceville (Haut-Ogooué) and Lambaréné (Moyen-Ogooué), which represent 90% of detected infections, but the epidemic has reached all the provinces of Gabon. The vast majority of HIV infections are attributed to heterosexual transmission among young adults; the other transmission modes are unsafe blood transfusion and mother-child transmission.
The national strategy
The fight against AIDS was actually organised as from 1987, following a decision of the Council of Ministers to set up a National Commission against AIDS and Sexually Transmissible Diseases (CNLS/MST), transformed into the National Programme against AIDS and STD (PNLS/MST). The PNLS/MST Coordination Unit developed in 2001 a 2001-2005 National Strategic Plan during a national consensus workshop which brought together representatives of the office of the President, the National Assembly, the office of the Prime Minister, Ministries, governors, the Economic and Social Council, local authorities, NGOs, organised economic groups, religions, people living with AIDS…but not of the private sector. This document remains the reference framework for the fight against AIDS, as well as the National Multi-sector Plan against HIV/AIDS and STI until 2006.
The private sector
The Gabonese Employers’ Confederation (CPG) is the major employers’ confederation. The other organisation, the CNPG, is a minority one. It is true that the CPG did initiate a seminar in 2003 to clarify the corporate charters. But no concrete action has actually been undertaken. Most of the companies within which AIDS programmes have been developed are subsidiaries of foreign groups, mainly French ones. The private sector must really get committed to the fight against AIDS in Gabon.
SIDA-ENTREPRISES member companies in Gabon are
ACCOR
Air Liquide
Ascoma : MCI
BGI
BNP Paribas : BICIG
CFAO
CALYON
Imperial Tobacco
Gras Savoye : Gras Savoye Gabon
OPTORG
SOGEA-SATOM
TOTAL
Available documentation
UNGASS report - Gabon - 2005
Latest update: August 2006
