Ruth Oginyi
Mrs Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru Wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Friday said her office would work assiduously to promote and protect the well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS in the state.
She however call on community leaders to join hands with the State Government to promote policies geared towards the patients’ total wellness.
Mrs Nwifuru spoke in Abakaliki on Friday at the 2023 World AIDS Day commemoration with the theme; “Communities Leadership to End AIDS by 2030”.
She pointed out that communities are at the fore of the response to HIV/AIDS, and their involvement is key in achieving sustainable progress.
Mrs Nwifuru maintained that she will use her pet project, Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced (BERWO), to achieve an HIV /AIDS free generation by 2030.
“I want to plead with our community leaders in Ebonyi State to join hands with the State Ministry of Health and BERWO foundation in raising robust awareness, promoting preventive measures, providing support and care for those living with HIV/AIDS, and combating stigma and discrimination in other to archive the UNAIDs 95-95-95 goal by the year 2030.”she said.
In his submission, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Mr Moses Ekuma, urged the public to abstain from lifestyles that promotes the virus to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Ekuma said clients of the virus should adhere strictly to their medication.
“Let all hands be on deck, as we gathered, stakeholders, community leaders to fight HIV to ensure that the target of ending by 2030 is achieved.
“We should start by knowing our HIV status,”Ekuma advised.
Mr Chibueze Iteshi, Programme Manager, Ebonyi State Agency for the Control of AIDS (EBOSACA) in his remarks explained that the agency has rolled out plan through other partners to conduct test exercise for people.
Iteshi, said over 14,000 victims in the state are taking their Antiretrovirals HIV and AIDS Drugs.
He said while on drugs are taken, tendency of transmitting the virus to another was low.
Representatives of World Health Organisation, USAID-Integrated Health Programme, called for community support in leading the response in HIV.
Mrs Chinyere Okorie, Coordinator, Association of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS, commended the government and partners for the unique event and called for more support in provision of the retroviral drugs.
About Post Author
Views: 0
