Cps to the wife of Abia Governor, Mr. Chika Ojiegbe (L) Comm. For Health, Dr. Joe Osuji leading the campaign against Hiv /Aids.
The Abia State Agency for the Control of Hiv and Aids in collaboration with the Vicar Hope Foundation and other agencies have gone round the city of Umuahia, in a road show to commemorate this year World Hiv and Aids Day with the theme ” communities make the difference”.
The road walk is to create awareness on the prevalence of Hiv, in the society, sensitizing the public on preventive measures and distribution of condoms to stop the spread of the virus.
Speaking at the campaign, the wife of Abia Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu said Hiv /Aids and the humanitarian challenges it brought has kept the world on its toes since it was discovered in 1980’s.
Mrs. Ikpeazu, who was represented by the former commissioner for Women Affairs, Ugoeze Kate Onyemachi, noted that though a lot of medical breakthroughs had been made to finding the cure but abstinence
she maintained is the best safe guard against the disease.
However, the Governor’s wife, warned that if we become complacent we would see a resurgence of Hiv /Aids so this is not the time for us to be complacent but be energized to sensitize the public.
In their separate speeches, while the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Osuji, Dr. Chinagozie Adindu of Abia Primary Health care Agency said that the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is poised to take the campaign to the local government areas in the State their Youth counterpart, Chief Emeka Ikwuagwu, said that the youths are mostly vulnerable and should be frequently sensitized.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, Abia State Agency for the Control of Aids, Dr. Eme Ajike, states that the message is simple, we are fighting for zero tolerance of the virus.
“The only way to end the scourge is for us to know our status”.
Ajike explains that even if one tested positive, there are drugs to checkmate the spread so that you do not infect your love ones.
Other agencies that participated in the awareness are the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ministries of health, youths, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency and Civil Society Organisations.