World AIDS Day: Benue winning against HIV – AHF

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Nigeria has expressed optimism that Benue State is gradually winning the battle against HIV/AIDS following active intervention by all stakeholders to ensure drastic reduction of the scourge in the state. Regional Medical Manager of AHF in Benue Office, Dr. Greg Abiaziem, yesterday said the Foundation has in the past seven […]

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Nigeria has expressed optimism that Benue State is gradually winning the battle against HIV/AIDS following active intervention by all stakeholders to ensure drastic reduction of the scourge in the state.

Regional Medical Manager of AHF in Benue Office, Dr. Greg Abiaziem, yesterday said the Foundation has in the past seven years of its existence in Benue state kept the promise by ensuring that more people get tested and had access to treatment to suppress their viral load in order to achieve epidemic control.

“We are getting close to winning. I wouldn’t say the war has been won yet but we are getting there in Benue state. There is still more to be done. There are lots of people out there on the streets in urban cities, people in villages that don’t even know about HIV. It is only by getting tested that people know their status.

“So for us, that is the entry point, we want to see a lot people come out to get tested. When anyone is found positive, such person is linked to a proper centre to be given necessary services. That is why we call on government, partners and everyone that matters to keep the promise.

“We want to keep the promise of HIV to ensure more persons are actually tested and placed on treatment and more person have viral suppression to achieve epidemic control,” he said.

Abiaziem stressed that this year’s World AIDS Day celebration, with the theme: “Live life positively by knowing your status,” was apt in line with the UNAIDS vision to achieve total control of the epidemic by having everyone know their status for global freedom from the dreaded virus.

He therefore urged relevant authorities to put up more effort in the fight, noting that the idea is not a one man show but a collective stakeholders concern as Benue state has recorded great achievements in the fight against HlV/AIDS owing to the commitment and dedication of the state towards reducing the size and impact of the epidemic.

The regional manager added that the Foundation joined the rest of the world in commemorating this World AIDS Day by expanding coverage and access to HIV testing and treatment in Benue state to many communities including Makurdi and Gboko environs while also supporting a 300-student targeted audience from different schools around the state for an educative competition.

“We are using the competition to share HIV message and information on sexual and reproductive health to them. That age is vulnerable; so we are reaching out to them to get the right message; we are preaching abstinence to them. We are not giving them condom,” Abiaziem said.

Earlier at the IBB square in Makurdi, where stakeholders gathered to commemorate the 2018 World AIDS Day, the Executive Secretary of Benue State AIDS Control Agency (BENSACA), Dr Gideon Dura, in his welcome address admitted that the incidence of HIV/AIDS has reduced in the state.