About 65,185 persons in Akwa Ibom State are living with HIV/AIDS says a survey conducted by an NGO, Strengthening Integrated Delivery of HIV/AIDS Services(SIDHAS).
It added that the NGO came up with the result following a concurrent and painstaking ten year testing and counselling in 21 local government Ares of the State.
The Deputy Director Technical, SIDHAS, Dr Pius Nwaokoro, who stated this on Tuesday at an engagement with select media representatives on HIV treatment surge in Uyo, said the State has achieved 90percent viral suppression where 90percent of people religiously taking their drugs have reduced their viral loads and can no longer transmit the virus.
Dr.Nwaokoro who also said the agency is working towards having epidemic control in the State as done in seven local council areas of the State noted that they work with patent medicine dealers in the rural areas, Traditional Birth Attendants, community leaders in providing HIV services in the villages such as identification of infected persons and Index Case Testing.
His words, “since April 2019, SIDHAS has carried out HIV test on 1,355,203 persons within the state including people in rural areas while 65,185 persons test positive for HIV.
“SIDHAS has achieved epidemic control in seven local governments of the state including Uyo, Mbo, Okobo, Eastern Obolo, Ibeno. To enhance drug distribution to people in the hinterlands, the organization has employed the services of Patent Medicine Dealers to assist in the distribution of drugs to HIV positive patients.”
Also speaking the Akwa Ibom Project Director, Family Health Insurance 360, Dr. Kolawole Olatunbosun disclosed that research is ongoing to see how HIV/AIDs patients can be taking their tablet once per week or per month as the case may be for treatment.
He urged the media to intensify campaigns in enlightening the people that testing and treatment of HIV/AIDs are free
Earlier, the Project Manager, AKSACA, Dr Igbemi Arthur thanked their partners for the contributions in curbing HIV in the State and appealed to journalists to report issues on HIV/AIDS with available facts as HIV was not a death sentence.
He noted that the State has made a remarkable progress in reducing the spread of the virus since the prevalence rate in the state still remains at 5.5% based on the NHAIS rating of 2018 , the percentage has reduced from the previously 10.8%.
