Kaduna sets aside N2.2bn to fight HIV/AIDS

He made this known in his address  during an advocacy organised by the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Fatima Ramalan Yero for the 23 local government chairmen in the state  at the weekend.He also mentioned that the N2.2billion is the state’s contribution to the President’s Comprehensive Respond Plan (PCRP), noting that the state will […]

He made this known in his address  during an advocacy organised by the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Fatima Ramalan Yero for the 23 local government chairmen in the state  at the weekend.
He also mentioned that the N2.2billion is the state’s contribution to the President’s Comprehensive Respond Plan (PCRP), noting that the state will soon inaugurate a management team to manage the PCRP funds.
According to him, the fund will go a long way to address the challenge of limited domestic financing of the response to HIV in the state.
The commissioner commended  Hajiya Fatima Yero for her commitment towards addressing the challenges of low utilisation of HIV services in the state. “Since she accepted to lead the demand creation team in 2013, she has been working tirelessly with officials of the Ministry of Health, wives of local government council chairmen and development partners to ensure that every woman in the state has access to HIV services,” he said.
Speaking further, he said that the proportion of pregnant women who are counselled and tested for HIV has increased from 24percent in 2012 to 43percent in 2013; adding that the number of facilities providing Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMCTC) services has increased from 196 to 392 in 2013.
Also in her remark, Hajiya Fatima Yero stressed that the fact that pregnant women who are living with HIV/AIDs can pass it to their unborn children prompted the state to seek prevention.
She also reiterated that with the support of development partners, PMTCT centres have increased from 196 in 2012 to 394 including private hospital; noting that the services are free.