The World Aids’ Day has ended in Rivers State with a call on pregnant women to avail themselves the opportunity to register at the health centre nearest to them for antenatal care.
They were also advised to ensure counseling, testing and treatment for all positive ones as well as encouraged everyone to know their status.
Barr. Nyesom Wike the governor of Rivers State gave the advice while addressing people of Ikwerre during this years’s world Aids Day celebration at Isiokpo headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The governor who was represented by his deputy Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Banigo disloced that December 1st marked 28th annual observance of world Aids Day stressing that the world Aids Day was the first ever global Health Day held for the first time in 1988 adding that every year there is a theme for World Aids Day.
According to the governor, from 2011 until 2015 there is an ongoing international theme of “getting to Zero” such as zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero aids related death.
The governor noted that this years theme: getting to zero actually underscores the success of various preventives globally and the clear reduction of the occurrence of new infections to near zero pointing out that the focus amongst other objectives is in achieving the control targets of 90-90-90 through ensuring that 90% of all people living with HIV infections will receive treatment and 90% of all people on antiretroviral therapy will have suppression by 2020.
Governor Wike who noted that the state government has made substantial progress in confronting HIV/AIDs in recent time despite some challenges appealed for collaboration of members of the public to remain steadfast and resolute in the pursuit of zero new infections to reach a future generation free of HIV/AIDS.
He commended people of Isiokpo for their supports in his administration.
In his address the CTC chairman of Ikwerre Local Government, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike lamented that the available global statistics on HIV/AIDS is frightening pointing out that as at 2013 AIDS had killed more than 36 million people worldwide 1981-2012 and an estimated 35.3 million people are living with HIV making it one of the most important global public health issue despite improved assess to anti-retroviral treatment the AIDS epidemic has continued to claim an estimated 2 millions lives each year of which 270,000 are children.
Mr. Nwanosike also cautioned against stigmatization of those living with HIV/AIDS positing out that “we have lost more victims to stigmatization than the actual disease itself according to health practitioners. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
