Until recently there was no reliable available data on the prevalence of HIV and AIDS in the County. Two Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers (VCT) have been established in Sinje and St. Timothy Hospital. However, the number of testing vonlunteers remains as low as 22 individuals, with two positive cases. World Vision has conducted a workshop to implement a one-year HIV and AIDS program in the County, during which faith-based organizations and leaders would be targeted and the Robertsport VCT center would be strengthened, and another established in Bo Waterside.

The extension and establishment of VCT Centers in Damballah Health Center and Lofa Bridge with increased sensitization will help in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

HIV and AIDS is a major challenge because the epidemic has the potential to slow the progress of many initiatives meant to build much-needed human capital and revitalize the economy. Ensuring that this does not happen requires that the citizens be empowered with the appropriate skills to arrest the spread of HIV and to minimize the impact. Integrating HIV and AIDS into poverty reduction strategies helps to create the necessary policy and planning environment for a comprehensive, multi-sectoral response.

While no county-specific data is available, a 2007 DHS estimates national HIV prevalence at 1.5 percent, or 1.8 percent for females and 1.2 percent for males. A previous estimate of 5.7 percent was based on the results of sentinel surveillance among pregnant women and girls attending ten antenatal care (ANC) clinics in urban areas. Future studies will seek to reconcile these seemingly disparate findings.

In any event, the war left most of the population severely challenged in meeting their social, cultural and economic needs, thereby making them vulnerable to a sharp increase in HIV prevalence, the likely result of which would be a negative impact on development: increased child and adult morbidity and mortality, increased absenteeism at the workplace and in schools, and lower economic output, among other effects.

HIV and AIDS-related vulnerability impacts a broad spectrum of the population, especially young people and females in particular, such that in Liberia as elsewhere, there is an increasing feminization of the epidemic. By strengthening the health infrastructure at the County level, the CDA works to promote human development by reducing the impact of HIV and AIDS vulnerability, morbidity and mortality. County health and social welfare authorities will participate in the development and implementation of a new national multi-sectoral strategic framework led by the NAC, reducing new HIV infections through the provision of information, and scaling up access to treatment and care services, mitigating the impact of the epidemic on those already infected and affected.