As in many other sub-Saharan nations, the chaos of civil war in Sierra Leone has allowed the HIV/AIDS epidemic to spread unabated. UNAIDS estimates that at the end of 2001 the HIV prevalence rate for adults in the country was 7 percent. Deaths due to preventable and treatable diseases are common in Sierra Leone. The malaria death rate among children ages 0-4 is very high, at almost 1,500 per 100,000. USAID reports that chloroquine-resistant malaria is a growing problem in Sierra Leone. The tuberculosis death rate for the country is also high even by African standards, at 58 per 100,000. Poor conditions in Sierra Leone have reduced life expectancy to 37 years.

Sources: BBC country profile, CIA World Factbook, United Nations Statistics Division

In collaboration with UNAIDS and the World Bank Sierra Leone is implementing a multi-sectoral response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. The plan is focused on containing the epidemic, especially among youth, women, and military personnel.

Sources: 2001 statement of Sierra Leone's ambassador to the UN, President Alhaji Kabbah's Inaugural Address

Demographic data contained in this section was obtained from the following sources: The Population Reference Bureau’s 2009 World Population Data Sheet was used for total population, life expectancy at birth, infant mortality, fertility, birth rate, death rate, % of married women 15-49 using modern methods of contraception, % of population 15-49 with HIV/AIDS in 2007/2008, and the GNI PPP per capita (2008). Literacy rates were found in the Population Reference Bureau’s publication 2005 Women of Our World. HIV prevalence data for 2001 and 2003 was obtained from the UNAIDS Barcelona 2002 report; HIV prevalence and orphan data for 2005 was obtained from the UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic 2006. Data on the % women who have discussed AIDS prevention with their husband or partner can be found in ORC Macro and USAID’s Women’s Lives and Experiences: Changes in the Past Ten Years (Research Findings from the Demographic and Health Surveys). Childhood malaria mortality data was accessed in 2003 from the United Nations Statistics Divisions’ Millennium Indicators. Tuberculosis data was obtained from the United Nations Statistics Division’s Millennium Indicators: MDGInfo 2006. In some cases information was unavailable.

Source: Sierra Leone's Central Statistics Office

University of Sierra Leone, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy

The US is the leading provider of aid to Sierra Leone. Other bilateral donors supporting humanitarian efforts in Sierra Leone include the UK, Canada, Sweden, Japan and Germany. Much of the bilateral aid to Sierra Leone is directed towards demobilization, democracy-building, and repair of the infrastructure damaged by the civil war.

Source: USAID

Entity	Project Title	Diseases	Primary Category	Secondary Category
International	Mano River Union Initiative on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)	HIV/AIDS	Prevention
	Because of the conflict sytem that now involves Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, a significant concern is that HIV will be spread by refugees and...
International	World Bank	HIV/AIDS	General
	In early 2002 the World Bank approved a $15 million HIV/AIDS Response Project loan for Sierra Leone. Source: ...
International	Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM)	Tuberculosis	General
	In Round 2 of funding the GFATM approved a grant for about $2.6 million to fight tuberculosis in Sierra Leone. The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society...

1. The GFATM has approved grants for about $8.6 million and $12 million to fight HIV/AIDS and malaria, respectively, in Sierra Leone. Grant agreements have not yet been signed.

   Source: GFATM