Ministry of Women Affairs has reiterated its commitment to check the spread of HIV/AIDS in the rural areas. This was made known by the Commissioner of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Joeba West when HIV/AIDS Critical Mass team took its community dialogue campaign on HIV/AIDS to Bolo community in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area recently. Mrs. West said, the current intervention strategy for fighting this pandemic has become multi-sectoral, and the problem must be tackled beyond the health sector. Represented by the Director, Women Affairs, Mrs. Blessing Dienye, the Commissioner stressed that the communities are relevant in educating people on risky behaviours that predisposes them to the virus “emphasis is on prevention, care and support since there is really no cure for HIV/AIDS, she said.
She informed those living with the virus that there is free treatment in the Rivers State Secondary Health Care Facilities, where anti-retroviral drugs have been made available and charged the participants to join the crusade of checking new infections through advocacy, counselling and community dialogue. Earlier, the Chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, Dame Maureen Tamuno who mobilized the participants, welcomed the initiative and encouraged them to avail themselves of the rare opportunity of such an event, to participate in the activities which include counselling and testing while lauding them for their prompt response despite the short notice.
In his response, the Chairman, Community Development Committee, Mr. Asitonka Bomaipirima, lauded the Ministry of Women Affairs for the huge step of reaching out to those in the rural areas and called on government to put in place structures that would encourage the children to stay in school instead of becoming dropouts. Mr. Bomaipirima also called for skill acquisition and vocational centres to be built in the community for young school leavers who cannot further their education and are unemployed.
