By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
The South South Zonal Coordinator, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Dr Uduak Daniel, has called on stakeholders to work towards reducing the numbers of people using drugs in the South South zone of Nigeria.
Daniel made the call at the closing ceremony on Drugs Prevention, Treatment and Care Sensitization Training in Relation to HIV due to the COVID-19 lockdown in Uyo on Thursday expressed regret that the zone is ranked second in the country in illicit drug use.
The Coordinator said that healthcare practitioners must advocate for the prevention, treatment and care of drug users, especially those who infected with HIV.
She explained that the professionals must also find innovative ways to address identified gaps in the multi sectorial HIV response.
According to her, the sensitization training is organized by NACA and the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime to build the capacity of front line health responders to HIV/AIDS issues.
“This sensitisation is necessary because even in the South South zone and South-South states not much awareness has been done about drugs and the impact of drugs.
“There are already implementers in the zone and in the state that are already equip to provide services to people who inject drugs.
“This is policy’s makers training, is for the state Agency for the Control of AIDS, for implementing partners in different states. It is for people who inject drugs themselves, so is basically for the policy making people.” Daniel said.
In his remarks, the National Project Officer of the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, Drug Demand Reduction, Mr Akan-idomo Ibanga, said that the country’s annual rate for the number of people who use drugs was 14 per cent while that of the south south stood at 16 per cent.
Ibanga said that the regional national rate was higher than the world annual rate and must be a cause for concern for policy makers and health practitioners in the country.
