Bauchi records progress in HIV response
The Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV / AIDS Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) has stated that it has recorded a significant progress in the treatment and response to HIV and AIDS in the state. Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Mansur Dada disclosed this at a press conference in Bauchi Thursday as […]
The Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV / AIDS Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) has stated that it has recorded a significant progress in the treatment and response to HIV and AIDS in the state.
Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Mansur Dada disclosed this at a press conference in Bauchi Thursday as part of the activities lined up for the 2017 World Aids Day to be celebrated on Friday, 1st December, 2017.
According to him, the state has an HIV prevalence of 0.6 percent and an a Sero-Prevalence of 2.3 percent.
He added that 16, 459 clients are receiving Anti-Retroviral (ARV) treatment as at September 30th, 2017, while 247,990 people have also received HIV counselling from January to September 2017.
Dr. Dada further informed that 107,771 pregnant women have been tested, received results and counselled out of which 181 tested positive from January to September 2017 while 382 exposed babies have been delivered at various health facilities offering HIV/AIDS services.
Speaking on the achievements recorded by BACATMA in the area of HIV/AIDS intervention between 2015 and 2017 the executive secretary disclosed that there is an ongoing expansion of HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) site in the state to at least one in all the 323 wards in the state.
According to him, one of the greatest achievements was the enactment of the Law by the Bauchi State House of Assembly against discrimination of HIV Positive persons and Pre-Marital screening for HIV and HB Genotype.
He added that a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) unit at the agency and establishment of Coordinating Laboratory for sample and results movements to ensure quality.
He further informed that 13 Gene X-pert machines for early detection of Tuberculosis have been provided in 10 local governments and the provision of Bauchi State HIV response Sustainability Road Map (SRM) as well as the development of Bauchi State HIV/AIDS Response Strategic Plan 2017-2021.
The BACATMA executive secretary however informed that the state is being faced with challenges in the fight against HIV and AIDS which he said include; lack of correct data to be used in decision making and policy formulation.
Other challenges according to him are; Inefficient supply chain of HIV/AIDS medical consumables and over dependence on donor funding for care and treatment.
The rest include; lack of machines to detect viral loads, stigma and discrimination, rising new infections and poor follow up of HIV expose babies.
He therfore called on the government and other stakeholders to do more in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the Vision 90-90-90 of ending HIV new infections by 2030.
He commended the Bauchi state government and other stakeholders for their support which actualised the success recorded in Bauchi State within the last two to three years.