Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Delta State.
This alarming revelation was made Wednesday October 7th 2020, at the launched of the HIV Self Testing mechanism introduced by the state government to stern the tide of the disease in the state.
“Apart from having a prevalence rate of 1.9 per cent, Delta state is amongst eight burden states in the country. This calls for concern and well thought out strategies to mitigate this unfortunate trend”, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chiedu Ebie, disclosed.
The SSG hinted that the HIV Self Testing Initiative, is to boost HIV/AIDS case finding the across the state.
He said that the initiative is necessary to fight the enviable ratio of Persons Living With HIV/AIDS ( PLW), HIV/AIDS in the state.
He stated that the initiative would help reduce stigmatization that comes with HIV testing, saying that “as much as we channel our energy towards the successful implementation of the HIV Self Testing, we must evolve innovative HIV protection methods”.
Commissioner of Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, emphasized the need of the initiative to be driven to the rural areas.
Also, the Executive Secretary, Delta State Agency for the Control of AIDS, ( SACA), Dr. John Osuyali, who made the mind-blowing revealation of over 63,000 people living with HIV in the state, stated that 18, 000 PLW HIV has enrolled into the treatment scheme of the state.
“From the aggregate data in all sites, over 41,000 PLWHIV are on treatment in Delta. It took us 15 years to have 23,000 enrolled on treatment but with the assistance of Governor Okowa, we have been able to double the number within 10 months” he asserted.
