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Stopping HIV Infection By 2030 Still Long Way Off – ASWHAN

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5 months ago

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Amid growing pessimism over whether Nigeria can meet the Joint United Nations Programme On HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) target of eliminating new HIV inffections by 2030, the Association of Women Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN) has said it would be difficult to attain the target in Nigeria, nay Rivers State.

The Coordinator of ASWHAN in Rivers State, Mrs. Fortune Kalio-Faladu, made this disclosure in an exclusive interview with The Tide, recently, during a meeting of key stakeholders involved in HIV prevention held in Port Harcourt, organised by the ASWHAN, in collaboration with the Coalition of Sex Workers Rights Movement (COSWRIM) in Nigeria.

She said, going by revelations from presentations and dicussions during the meeting, achieving the 2030 target would not be feasible, except more deliberate drastic actions are taken by stakeholders, particularly Government, at all levels.

“From our discussions today, we still have a long way to go. But I think if we, as stakeholders, and members of the State, particularly the government, can actually come to do what we have to do, in the right proportion and at the right time, we can still achieve the 2030 target”, she stated.

On the part of individuals, she said people would need to come out to ascertain their HIV status, and be on treatment, if they turn out positive, and those who are negative would have to abstain from habits that could make them positive.

“For those that are positive, they should be on drugs, because I know that once you take your drugs correctly and consistently over a period of time, you will be virally suppressed, and once you’re virally suppressed, you cannot transmit the virus”, she explained.

For stakeholders, she called for more all round commitment: to meetings, increase efforts to not only create awareness, but to also follow-up on drives to reach targeted vulnerable groups to HIV infection.

She also said beyond these, the Government has a greater part to play, if the 2030 tagget for zero HIV infection can be achieved.

A key way to do this, she said, is for the government to come up with a disciplinary group that would act as spy in order to enforce discrimination of HIV positive persons.

“The truth be told, when we talk about prevention, if I’ll be stigmatized and discriminated upon, I don’t think I will come out from my hiding. I’ll be in my house, possibly without taking the necessary drugs.

“But if the Government is there, and these positive persons are aware that they’re being protected, then they’re more likely to come out of their hiding, because they know they can get jobs for which they are qualified, and also attain societal status without discrimination”.

In her presentation at the meeting, titled, “HIV Prevention and Accountability: A Community Perspective, 2023”, the ASWHAN Coordinator delved into such areas as efforts made by Civil Societies Organisation’ (CSOs) in HIV prevention; and Progress against the 2025 roadmap for CSOs, which covered Evidence-driven assessment of HIV prevention programme needs and barriers, Precision Prevention Approach, country investment needs, HIV Prevention political leadership, community-led HIV prevention services, remove social and legal barriers, promote HIV prevention integration, new HIV prevention technologies, Real-time prevention programme monitoring, and Accountability for HIV Prevention.

Buttressing the stand of the ASWHAN Coordinator on the feasibility of the 2030 target and the way forward, the Communication Officer of the COSWRIM in Nigeria, Mr. Vena Daniel, re-echoed the need for more efforts by key stakeholders.

He said, “Based on our meeting today, I will say that we are still very far away from attaining that goal, because, looking at some of the laws and practices and fragmentations within the CSO movement, you’ll see that we’re still far away from it.

“For instance, it’s just today we’re realising that a unique group has been excluded from the HIV/AIDS implementation space, that is, people who are in confined space, such as correctional homes (prison), frequent travellers, such as drivers, Police, and other security personnels.

“Implementation has been going on over the years, but these groups have been neglected”.

He, therefore, suggested that given the present scenario, there’s the need to extend the target year to 2035, within which more deliberate efforts should be made in HIV preventive efforts, considering that it’s barely six years to 2030.

“If we can extent it to 2035, we can begin to consider it. But, for now, 2030 is not feasible. Looking at the level of work that still needs to be done, I don’t think by 2030 we can achieve zero HIV infection “, he emphasized.

Sogbeba Dokubo

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Rivers

Emulate Fubara’s Transformation Agenda, LG Boss Urges S’South Leaders  … Calls For Investment In N’Delta 

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2 weeks ago

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December 20, 2024

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Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr Enyiada CookeyGam has called on leaders in the South-South states of Nigeria to emulate the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, in evolving policies that would transform and develop their various states, and the Niger Delta region in general.
This, he said, they should, do through industrialization and infrastructure development of their respective states.
Speaking with newsmen recently in Port Harcourt on the performance of the Fubara-led administration and pace of development in the State, CookeyGam also urged Niger Delta sons and daughters to see the need to woo investors to invest in the zone to enhance aggressive infrastructural and human capital development.
He expressed the need for Governors in the zone, stakeholders and leaders at all levels to  pull  their resources together and establish industries in their different areas, which will ultimately manifest in the region.
“Unity of purpose with shared motivation, mutual survival and benefits would offer us the opportunity to pull our resources, talents, and ideas together for the well-being of the people of the States and region”, CookeyGam said.
According to him, within the past one year of his governance, Fubara has instituted many transformational projects and development programmes that has direct bearings on people’s lives.
He said, “on assumption of office in 2023, Fubara was confronted with the challenges of uplifting the living standard of the people of the state, but with the support and collaboration of stakeholders in the state, he was able to ease the financial plight of Rivers people.
“Fubara is ready to woo investors into the state, with varieties of industries that will create employment opportunities for the people of the state, in terms of human capital development, industrialization, entrepreneurship, health, education, agriculture and other sectors.
“Fubara is poised to attract participation of the private sector and divest government interest to private sector, hitch has resulted in the State being rated as the fastest developing economy in Nigeria”.
CookeyGam, who said South-South governments should provide industries and infrastructure to develop the region, lamented that in spite of the federal allocation to states, governments in the region failed to harness the economic opportunities of the zone.
He recalled that visionary leaders such as Fubara, former governors of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili and Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi performed well in developing the state through the provision of infrastructure and the setting up of industries.
“Leadership must create environment that would compliment the efforts of others”, he said, and appealed to Niger Delta people to rally support for their Governors to help them develop the region for posterity.
Bethel Toby
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Rivers

Group Urges Consistency, Diligence In Nigerian Youths

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2 weeks ago

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December 20, 2024

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The Chief Executive Officer of Young Founders Business Reality TV Series, Mr. Reuben Ebitari T. has advised Nigerian Youths to be consistent and diligent in order to succeed in any business venture.
The CEO who stated this during the launch of the organization in Port Harcourt, described diligence and consistency as necessary for success.
Mr. Ebitari stated that his organisation’s goals were to empower young entrepreneurs, provide training and mentorship to scale their business ideas into sustainable ventures.
He explained that he knew that there were people who genuinely wanted to engage in business but the fund to start was not available, noting that such individuals were the target of his organisation.
He stated that the sponsorship for the project was drawn from their individual contributions as members of the group and expressed hope that government, corporate bodies and individuals would partner with his group to achieve desired goals.
According to him, we are looking forward to expand the project.
He, however, expressed misgivings that his organization would be able to reach those that had little or no education, saying that today’s world was technology-driven.
Also speaking, a prominent and  founding member of the group, Queen Adaeze Chineme, hailed the objectives of the organization.
She said her organization was inspired by its passion for empowering the youths.
She emphasized that there was need to provide capital for Youths who genuinely want to engage in business ventures.
Miss Chineme said primarily the beneficiaries of their capital support would be drawn from those with existing business outfits and noted that youths from 18 to 35 years were eligible.
She also called on government, corporate bodies and individuals to support the venture.
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Rivers

Immunization: Rivers Records Decrease In Women, Infant Mortality  … As OPTS Donates Cold Chain Refrigerators To PHCMB

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3 weeks ago

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December 20, 2024

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Rivers State has recorded reduction in mortality of infants, children, and women who die during pregnancy and childbirth.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, who disclosed this, Tuesday, during a media briefing, in Port Harcourt, by the Primary Healthcare Management Board (PHCMB), at the donation of World Health Organisation (WHO) Prequalified Cold Chain Refrigerators, said the decrease spans the last three months.
According to her, an analysis of relevant data in the last three months from which report was presented to the State’s Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, who is the Chairman of the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Taskforce, showed an increase in immunisation, which resulted in the decrease in the mortality of infants, children, and women in the State.
“As we were analysing the data in the last three months, and providing report to Her Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, we were pleased and delighted to share with her and onward to the State Executive Council that we have seen an increase in immunisation coverage by virtue of the work the management and staff of the PHCMB have been doing.
“Significant increase in immunisation coverage, reduction in mortality and in newborns, in infants, below the age of one, and children under the age of five”, she said.
Dr. Oreh continued that beyond the stated reductions, there were also “reductions in the number of women who died during pregnancy and childbirth”.
In spite of these, however, the Health Commissioner emphasized the need to sustain efforts being made to ensure that “we get to the point in Rivers State where there are no Zero Dose Children, that there are no more children who don’t have access to vaccines appropriate for their age to save their lives from common childhood illnesses that threaten their survival”.
Making the donation of the WHO Prequalified Cold Chain Refrigerators, the Executive Director, Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), the donor of the refrigerators, Mr. Gwueke Ajaifa, said the donation is in the spirit of giving back to the people.
Noting that OPTS is an association of oil and gas companies in Nigeria, comprising five International Oil Companies (IOCs), and 25 Nigerian Companies, Ajaifa explained the reason for the donation.
“As individual companies, we recognise the need to take care of the people who live in our communities, because without healthy communities, there can be no progress in terms of business.
“Individual companies have been reaching out to the State, but collectively, we also see the need to reach out and ensure that we take care of our people, and Rivers State is one of the States we believe deserves our attention.
“So, this equipment has been donated to support the immunisation programme, in order to maintain the potency of vaccines, because it’s important that we store them properly”, Ajaifa stated.
Explaining the function of the WHO Prequalified Cold Chain Refrigerators, the State Immunization Officer, Dr. Inwom Joseph Urang, said it’s basically to maintain the potency of the vaccines.
“When vaccines are brought, we maintain their potency at a particular temperature, usually +2 to +8 degrees centigrade. So, you don’t allow the temperature to go beyond that.
“Once the temperature goes beyond that, the potency of the vaccines might be compromised. So, we need this equipment to actually help us maintain these vaccines.
“If anything happens to the Cold Chain, we call it ‘breakage of the Cold Chain’. Once the Cold Chain is broken, the potency of the vaccine is gone. Instead of the vaccine being a life-saver, it will now be a killer.
“This is a modern equipment with ten years warranty”, Dr. Urang explained.
Sogbeba Dokubo
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