From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State Government says no fewer than 23,000 persons are currently undergoing treatment for HIV/AIDS in the State with Women and Children having greater percentage.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Haruna Audu disclosed this at a media parley in Lokoja, Wednesday.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, BabaMaaji Abubakar Danlami, the commissioner said Kogi State HIV prevalence stands at 0.9%.
According to him, the reduction in the State prevalence rate from 1.2% in 2012 to 0.9 was achieved through the commitment of critical stakeholders in the state in the fight again the HIV scourge.
” What this report translates into is that the future will be blink if we do not double our present efforts to curtail the disease progression among these groups because women are home makers, as youths are leaders of tomorrow.
“With the current numbers of treatment, it means we still have close to 24,000 persons in our midst that are infected by the virus going by NAIIS report and 2006 population growth progression estimates that needs to be tested which implies more work for the state and her partners” Audi added.
While reiterating that the current administration is committed towards achieving zero prevalence rate for HIV in the State, Audu added that government will provide conducive environment to reduce the situations and circumstances that put people at risk of contracting the virus.
Also speaking, the Kogi State Coordinator Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, (CISHAN) Mrs Christy Oluwole Abayomi lamented that, as at December 2020, Nigeria has been unable to achieve the UNAIDS 2020 target of diagnosing 90 percent of all the people living with HIV, placing 90 percent of those diagnosed on lifesaving Antiretroviral Therapy, (ART), and achieving viral suppression for 90 percent of those on treatment.
” To enable us achieve 95-95-95 vision so that we are not left behind in ending the HIV pandemic by the year 2030, there is need for joint responsibilities in fighting HIV”.
She called on the State Government to commit reasonable percentage of the state resources to facilitate access to free HIV counselling and testing, prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, (PMTCT) and access to treatment and retention to achieve undetectable viral suppression translating to eliminating the transmission of HIV.
Meanwhile, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has approved the training of 200 Midwives and 100 Nurses specifically for Hard-To-Reach rural areas in the State.
This was disclosed yesterday when the Director of Nursing Services at the State Ministry of Health, Mrs Oguche Martina, led other heads of Nursing and Midwifery Institutions on a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo in his Office.
Oguche said the initiative was to bridge the manpower gap in the healthcare sector.
She said the beneficiaries will be trained for two years at the Nursing and Midwifery institutions in the State, after which they will be posted to work in their communities.
The Director further said the Kogi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has accepted to absorb the beneficiaries at the end of their training.
Earlier, the Provost of the Kogi State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Obangede, Mrs Abraham Hannah said the visit of the team was to seek the cooperation of the Ministry in enlightening the people about the program.
In his response, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, said,
“When you look at our healthcare delivery in the State, it is important to commend you for giving us competent hands that have been so effective and efficient.
“Today’s news is commendable. I am from a rural area that has no nurse. So I understand what other rural areas in the State pass through. This initiative will help to address that manpower gap.
“I am not surprised at the overwhelming support the Governor is giving to this initiative. He is a Healthcare Governor that has radically changed the face of healthcare delivery in the state.
“We thank the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria for this well-thought-out plan. It will go a long way in assisting rural communities to have rural people for rural nursing.
“Rural communities, faith-based organisations, and NGOs are hereby urged to support successful candidates during the training. The first phase of the program will commence in May 2021”.
Fanwo said the information platforms of government will be used to sensitize the people about the programme, commending the Ministry of Health for ensuring Yellow Fever does not ravage the State.
