FIC (Abia State) – Abia State Governor,Dr Okezie lkpeazu has assured Foreign Missions and Stakeholders in Health related matters of the preparedness of the present administration to partner them to reduce the number of people living with HIV/AIDS outside the treatment zones.
Dr. lkpeazu who gave the assurance at a one day Stakeholders meeting with the United State, Deputy Chief of Mission, Kathleen FitzGibbon, CARITAS Nigeria Management and Centre for Disease Control and Prevention held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia said Govt in being health friendly has established so many platforms such as Tele-Health programs, 800 Health Centres and rehabilitated General Hospitals in its bid to reach out to people living with HIV/ AIDS.
The Governor represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu disclosed that having recognized the alarming statistics of the increase in the HIV/AIDS scourge especially in Local Govt Areas and States having borders with the State,Government has always been very proactive when it comes to incidents of epidemic, crime and infections by preventing and nipping it in the bud by protecting it’s citizens before it spreads to the State.
He appreciated the contributions of the United States of America, the Federal Govt through NACA and CARITAS Nigeria in their bid to reduce the scourge of AIDS in Nigeria and Africa at large and promised to always create awareness through the State Orientation Agency among others to enable them realize their objectives and target.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Osuji said the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s health friendly administration has always sustained and implemented HIV/AIDS programs and other policies that will enhance the health needs of the people and lauded CARITAS Nigeria for the good job they are doing in reducing the scourge and other related diseases to the barest minimum.
In their remarks, the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, The Most Revd. Dr Lucius Ugorji represented by The RT. Rev. Dr. Michael Kalu Ukpong and the Executive Secretary, ABSACA, Dr Ogbonnaya Ehiemere who noted that the CARITAS Nigeria through the Catholic Church has continued to impact on the lives of indigent Nigerians and pledged to support them in the fight against the scourge of HIV/AIDS to enable them achieve their goals.
The event which featured goodwill message from the United States Deputy Chief of Missions, Kathleen FitzGibbon attracted the presence of the SSG, Mr Chris Ezem, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Deaconess Franca Ekwueme, Top Government Officials, the Chairman, Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Joseph Ndubuisi Nwabeke and Stakeholders in the Health sector.
