World AIDS DAY 2021: Stakeholders call for Proactiveness
Prosper Okoye
Benue State Agency for the Control of AIDS (BENSACA) and HIV/AIDS Civil Society groups joined the rest of the world, on the commoration of the 2021 World AIDS Day.
Benue State ranks second, With a 4.9 percent prevelance level in the country’s rating of the disease prevalence, according to statistics provided by Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS). Professor of Epidemiology and Community health, Dean of clinical sciences Benue state University, Priscilla Utoo disclosed in a presentation at the Ibrahim Babaginda Square, Makurdi.
The University Don, however, expressed optimism for a decline, if the 2021 global theme: “End Inequalities, End AIDS, End Pandemics,”is given multidisciplinary approches, functional partnership between Community based organization and network of people living with HIV, Clinicians, researchers, domestic and foriegn government.
State Director, World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Ahemen Terseer, represented by Israel Popoola, decried the set backs in achieving 75 percent reduction in new HIV infections and 81 percent reduction in AIDS related deaths, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was worsened by the state of social inequalities. He also noted its concomitant implication, that the country may not be able to eradicate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
He further urged the government to prioritize investment in health funding for community-led, human rights-based, gender transformative responses. “We must boost our essential health workforce, and secure equitable access to life-saving medicines and health technologies,” he says.
The Senior Regional Medical Manager for AIDS Healthcare Foundation Benue state, Dr. Ugboji John admonished Nigerians to know their HIV status, and keep to prescribed medications, this, he described as the head way on winning against the diesease.
Ugboji, who was represented by Faasema Terfa, (Prevention Coordinator) AIDS Healthcare Foundation – Benue Clinics, warned against stigmatizing of the people living with HIV/ AIDS, while calling on the Benue state government to make more operational, the anti-Stigmazation law in the state.
In a goodwiill message to the Benue state government, the North Central Zonal Coordinator, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Mr. Adakole Ogwola represented by Lawrence kwaghga noted that the 2021 national theme is: “End Inequalities, End AIDS through Sustainable HIV Financing in Nigeria.
Executive Secretary, BENSACA, Rebeccua Idoko, in her closing remarks thanked the State Government, and the Benue State Commisioner of Health, represented by Professor Terrumun Swende, for unrelenting support to the Agency.
The Executive Governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, represented by Tule Terver Zua former Director, Health Management Board, expressed commitment to eradicating the HIV/AIDs pandemic, adding that the idea shared at the event will be implemented.
Other HIV/ AIDS organizations at the event are: Nynetha Public Health and Development Initiative Benue State; Association of Religion Ladies Living with or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS; Stay Alive Women Empowerment Initiative; 360 HSDC Civil Society for HIV/AIDS; Kende Avese Foundation; Foundation for resilient empowerment and development; Ask Public Health Initiative (APIN); and the NYSC Health CDS group.
