HIV is not a myth or fairy-tale. It is a reality. HIV / AIDS is avoidable, preventable, and manageable says Gov Ifeanyi Okowa
As the World Mark the 2015 World Aid today, the Executive Governor of Delta State, Gov Ifeanyi Okowa has delivered a Broadcast to Mark the 2015 WORLD AIDS DAY.
According to Governor Okowa, “World Aides day is a day set aside by the United Nations in 1988 for the global community, to remember with sobriety, those who have died from HIV / AIDS, those infected and affected. It Is a day to raise awareness about the infection and to fight prejudice against those infected.
HIV / AIDS is a public health issues, which has affected every facet of Human Life, with a huge burden on the general population. I wish to point out that high percentage of persons are aware of HIV / AIDS, but correct knowledge on how to prevent the infection is still limited, due largely to certain level of ignorance, indiscipline and outright denial of the reality of HIV / AIDS. This underscores the enormous task before HIV / AIDS programmers and implementating Partners.
The theme of this year’s activity is Getting to Zero, ending HIV / AIDS by 2030.
I wish to express the commitment of the Delta State Government to providing the enabling environment for HIV / AIDS activities in the state, we are committed to collaborating with relevant implementating partners to ensure massive reduction in HIV incidents in the state
It is heart – warming to note that HIV prevalent rate that was high as 5.08% in 2001 in the State has reduced significantly to 0.7% in 2015. This, no doubt, is the result of dogged approach and collaboration of all stakeholders in the HIV Response.
Currently, we have thirty nine Anti-Retroviral Centres in the State. One hundred and five Prevention of the Mother To Child Transmission of HIV centres. There are also one hundred and five HIV counselling and Testing Sites.
All these Sites are accessible and offer adequate services to all Deltans and non-Deltans alike.
More Persons living with HIV are now on Anti-Restroviral drugs. Today, Delta State has over 70,000 people living with HIV. Presently, Out of 38,257 eligible persons living with HIV, we have placed 18,378 on Anti-Restroviral drugs as at September, 2015. This includes adults and children.
Suffice to say that the free maternal health programme of the State government which is sustained by my administration has given huge impetus to Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV / AIDS in the state. A total number of 176,184 pregnant women have been enrolled for Ante-natal care from 2011-2015. Within this period, a total number of 163,136 were counselled and tested, of which 5,663 tested positive for HIV. Of this figure, 3,754 received ARV prophylaxis.
Dear Deltans, for us to match forward in our collective efforts at eradicating HIV / AIDS in our dear State, It is imperative for the individual to know his/her HIV status. This is the prerequisite for achieving an HIV- free generation.
HIV is not a myth or fairy-tale. It is a reality. HIV / AIDS is avoidable, preventable, and manageable.
One can live a normal life, even when infection has occurred. All you need to do is to adhere strictly to care and support those living with HIV/AIDS”
0 comments:
Post a Comment