HIV/AIDS Prevalence Reduced from 5.8% to 1.4% in Kogi – Commissioner

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The Kogi State government, on Wednesday, said that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS had reduced from 5.8 per cent to 1.4 per cent due to sensitisation and sustained healthcare in the state.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Berikisu Momoh, made the assertion in Lokoja, the state capital, at an interactive meeting with stakeholders on HIV/AIDS.

Momoh said the objective of the meeting was to improve access to care and support of women and children infected with the disease using the right approach.

She said that the meeting was also to afford the ministry the opportunity to collaborate with relevant NGOs to create a database to aid referral on HIV counseling and testing and give care and support to infected individuals.

The commissioner listed the achievements of the ministry to include participation in World’s AIDS Day celebration, free registration for HIV support groups and educational support to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

Other activities are meeting the HIV support groups, economic empowerment and home base care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

“I want to assure you that the ministry is ever ready to collaborate with KOSACA in supporting women and children that are HIV positive through prevention, care and support,” she said.

Momoh commended Governor Idris Wada and his wife, Hajia Halima Wada, for the support given to children, whose parents died as a result of infection from HIV/AIDS.

Mrs Roseline Alabi, a director in the ministry, encouraged people living with the disease not to give up on themselves.

She appealed to them to always take their drugs because that was the only thing that could prevent untimely death.

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