FIC Report (Ebonyi State) – As part of the exercise marking the 2024 World AIDS Day, the government of Ebonyi State has reiterated its commitments to ensure a drastic reduction in HIV and AIDS infection in the state.
This came as the Ebonyi State Agency for the Control of AIDS (EBOSACA) concluded a week-long sensitization and awareness campaign and distribution of drugs and other preventative equipment such as condoms to people across the state.
The commissioner for health, Hon. Sabinus Nwibo, represented by Dr. Nwali Okata James commended the efforts of development partners and other stakeholders in healthcare delivery, which, according to him, has reduced the rate of infection to a manageable extent that someone with the virus can still live a normal life. We still know that stigmatization is still ongoing; that is why it is important that we come out today to create awareness to drastically reduce the rate of infection in our state.
We want to categorically state that the Ebonyi State government is doing a lot to make sure that there is a drastic reduction in HIV infection and to also state that the government is also giving hope to those that are already infected so that they can live their normal lives.
We are calling on people to come out and get tested, so that if they test positive, we’ll let them know that it’s not a death sentence, that if they take their drugs appropriately, they will live a normal life”. He said.
Speaking further, Dr. Iteshi Andrew Chibueze, who is the executive secretary of the agency, urged members of the public to adhere to various information shared during the sensitization campaign to get protected from being infected and as well seek help from the agency in order to have access to drugs and prevention materials.
We have an agreement with the Association of Local Government in Nigeria (ALGON) to carry out more sensitization across the local government areas. We have also engaged with the traditional rulers, who have also promised to reach out to the people in the hinterlands for more awareness.” He said.
Dr. Onyekachi Chukwuma, the program and technical leader of the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECHEWS), expressed confidence that the aim of the sensitization campaign, which is to eradicate HIV and AIDS by 2030, would be determined by ensuring that human beings are given adequate information to take the right path in health.
Also reacting, Igwe Precious Nneka, the executive director of Equitable Health for Women and the Empowerment Initiative, noted that the exercise was successful, and infected persons were counselled and linked to care and ensured that the proper medication is made available to them.
Some of the partners who actively participated in the exercise included members of the Institute of Virology Nigeria, Amanda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT), as well as they urged the people to be conscious of their status, as well as adhere to various information shared during the sensitization campaign.
Signed
BAKARE LAURETTA
HOC FIC ABAKALIKI
