By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Executive Secretary, Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, (CISHAN), Walter Ugwocha, on Thursday in Lokoja disclosed that no fewer than 46, 000 persons are undergoing HIV/AIDs infection treatment in Kogi State.
Ugwocha who disclosed this during the North Central Zonal campaign flag-off and launching of ‘self testing for HIV/AIDS’, noted that, there is another 31, 000 persons who are yet to be tested for the virus in the state.
The Executive Secretary pointed out that, “as at the last count, 1.9 million persons are living with the virus in the country, while another 1.1 million are undergoing treatment, saying that the country is currently testing 11 million persons yearly, which is not enough if the country must achieve the 95 percent success in testing, treatment and reduction in viral loads by 2030.”
According to him, Nigeria is presently working with other global communities to ensure that no fewer than 95 percent testing, treatment and reduction in viral loads by year 2030.
He said the aim of the self testing is to eliminate the problem of stigmatization, thereby encouraging more citizens to know their HIV/AIDS status.
The Executive Secretary said that the good news is that the federal government would be making 50,000 self testing kits available and urged the state and local government areas in Kogi state to key into the process.
In her remarks, the state coordinator of CISHAN, Christy Abayomi said “everybody must be involved in the fight against the pandemic, and to achieve meaningful result, government at all levels must take the lead.”
She said, the need to aggressively tackle this scourge has become very imperative during this COVID-19 as those that are mostly affected by the pandemic are those with underlying disease like HIV/AIDS.
The secretary to Kogi state government, (SSG), Dr. (Mrs), Folashade Ayoade Arike, while receiving the group in her office, promised that the state government would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that more of the citizens are tested for the virus.
The SSG who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in charge of Administration and Special Duties, Alhaji Labaran Idris Idakwoji, assured that the office of the SSG as the engine room of the government will support the programme to succeed.
In his contribution, the North Central coordinator, Hamza Aliyu pointed out that the strategic position of Kogi state, boardering over nine States, necessitated the need to handle the issue of HIV/AIDS with seriousness.
