Abia State Agency For the Control of HIV/AIDS, SACA, is on warpath to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and human rights infringements to ground level in the state.
The Director General of Abia SACA, Dr Uloaku Emma Ukaegbu, stated this during the 3 quarter Gender and Human Rights technical committee meeting held in Umuahia, today.
Dr Ukaegbu pointed out that stigma and discrimination meted out to key population by some individuals and institutions must be put to an end forthwith, as this would enable key population access their drugs and treatment seamlessly.
The SACA boss then charged the committee to work round the clock to resolve perceived challenges key population faced while accessing treatment.
She disclosed that plans were underway to mount aggressive media campaigns that would encourage people whose human rights were abridged on account of their HIV/AIDS status, should seek legal remedies.
Dr Ukaegbu used the occasion to eulogize the Administration of Governor Alex Otti for allowing her agency, for the first time, appeared before the State Budget Committee to present and defend their work plans or budget of 2024.
In her goodwill message, the South East Zonal Coordinator, the National Agency For the Control of HIV/AIDS, NACA, Dr (Mrs) Miriam Ezekwe, called upon Abia State Government to take immediate step to domesticate HIV/Anti Stigma and Discrimination Law in the state.
Dr Ezekwe maintained that the domestication of such law would dismantle stigmatization, discrimination and any other bottle neck key population were passing through in the state.
Resource and representative from CARITAS, Ikenna Nwakanma, Representative from Community-Led Monitor Initiate, Miss Onyemachi Gospel, Representative from Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Josephine Onunaka and Ms Jennifer Like of State Team Lead, took time out to share their success stories, steps taken by their establishments to tackle and reduce HIV/AIDS prevalence and human rights infringement in the state.
