From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Agency for Control of Aids (EBOSACA) has revealed that about fifteen thousand (15,000) persons in the state are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus( HIV).
Executive Secretary and Programs Manager of the agency, Chibueze Iteshi disclosed this to newsmen in Abakaliki, the state capital.
He regretted that the prevalent rate increases among persons between ages of 18 and 35 on quarterly basis and announced plans for aggressive sensitization which he said was expected to reach all nooks and crannies of the state on prevention measures and need for regular testing for early detection and treatment.
Iteshi who expressed displeasure that out of the 719 health facilities in the state, only 56 carry out HIV services, called for involvement of more partners, Civil Based Organizations ,health facilities and stakeholders in the fight against the virus in the state.
He appreciated Governor Francis Nwifuru for ensuring that the agency was captured in the state 2024 budget as against the alleged neglect it suffered in the past 9 years and assured that the agency will not relent in carrying out it’s core mandates.
He encouraged residents especially youths to always go for regular testing for HIV , imbibe good hygiene practices and have healthy lifestyles.
Iteshi called for permanent end to discrimination of people living with the virus, noting that it now attracts either fine of (N250,000.00) two hundred and fifty thousand naira , one year imprisonment or both for offenders especially at work places according to “HIV and AIDS Anti – Discrimination Act 2014” in the state.
He assured that with early detection of the virus, prompt and adequate use of anti retroviral drugs,any infected person can still live out his or her full life span with suppressed viral load.
“We shall engage stakeholders in advocacy visits in terms of collaboration ,we have visited ALGON chairman who promised to get involve other 13 LGA chairmen and development centers coordinators for the sensitization on preventive measures .
“We want to carry out campaign especially on preventive measures so that people will be more enlightened on how to protect themselves from contamination of the HIV virus. It shall be more detailed communities testing so that new cases when discovered will be enrolled into care instantly. The community town hall meetings will commence this August and will bring together all the stakeholders including traditional rulers in all autonomous communities in the state.
“The rate of HIV virus infection currently in the state is quite alarming because on quarterly basics when we validate our data ,there is always hundreds of persons who test positive. Currently we have about fifteen thousand (15000 )persons living with the virus in the state.
“It is advised that anyone at high risk maybe because of his or her job should always go for free HIV testing every three months from pre exposure to post exposure to suppress the viral load. When one is virally suppressed he/ she can live out their God given lifespan,” , he stated.