The Rivers State Government has charged its citizenry to be advocates of HIV/AIDS control in their various localities as part of preventive measures towards eradicating the ailment by 2030.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze C. Oreh, who made the call in her World AIDS Day broadcast, recently, said this is one way to enhance the efforts of the State Government in its quest to ensure a HIV Free State.
“I urge you to be an advocate for HIV control in your various communities: know your status today; do not stigmatize infected persons; pregnant women should endeavour to register at the health facility nearest to them for antenatal care.
“Let us support Government control programmes for more control successes”, she stated.
In the WAD broadcast, the Commissioner noted that in spite of concerted global efforts aimed at checking the trend of HIV infection, the ailment has remained a source for concern, even in Rivers State, requiring more commitment in order to end its existence by 2030, noting that Rivers State is one of the identified areas with high prevalence.
“Despite the successes recorded in the control of HIV/AIDS, the disease still has global presence, making the World AIDS Day remains as relevant today as it has always been even as we mark the 35th commemoration.
“Therefore, the need to increase awareness of the impact of HIV on people’s lives, end stigma and improve the quality of life of people living with HIV cannot be over-emphasized.
“The control of the virus has remained a critical factor in ensuring a healthy population, and is indeed contributory to determining life expectancy in many countries.
“Like most cosmopolitan cities in the country, Rivers State, is among the high prevalence States for HIV infection in the country in the past two decades.
“The 2018 National AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey conducted across the country by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and Maryland University, USA, places Rivers State at 3rd position in the country with a prevalence value of 3.8 after Akwa Ibom and Benue States.
”Although, this represents a drop from the previous value of 15.2% prevalence in 2010, the large number of estimated People Living with HIVs (PLHIVs) requires humongous effort to achieve epidemic control, technically referred to as 95-95-95 targets of year 2030.
“Presently in the State, it is estimated that 95% of People Living with HIV are aware of their HIV status, 98% are on treatment and 87% are virally suppressed and are receiving treatment in about 116 health facilities across the State, inclusive of public, private as well as primary, secondary and the tertiary treatment sites as a result of the efforts to achieve epidemic control”, the Commissioner said.
This year’s theme, “Communities: Leadership to End AIDS by 2030”, she continued, “draws attention to People living or affected with HIV/AIDS and groups that are at increased risk of HIV transmission.
“We recognize that communities play important roles in the HIV response in terms of rendering services, creating demand, reaching people with services difficult to reach with formal health service, resourcing, providing leadership and changing social attitudes in order to promote equal access to care.
“We are also concerned about the persons who are yet to know their status, who are stigmatized or have suffered disabilities as a result of the epidemic”.
Consequently, she said, “the State is committed to improving the quality of lives for Persons Living with the virus by guaranteeing access to care and good quality health services comparable to international best standards.
“The State AIDS/STIs Control Programme, in conjunction with its supporting partners, have continued massive voluntary community testing campaigns across the State with innovative retention strategies for meeting the targets of HIV elimination.
“As part of on-going programs and highlights for the World AIDS day commemoration, the State AIDS & STIs Control Programme, in collaboration with its supporting partners, have already embarked on massive case finding and linkage to care of identified positives in all the Local Government Areas.
“These are clear indications of our commitment to improving access to health services for HIV, and ultimately improving patient outcome.
“Patients are receiving quality care without stigma in convenience and ambience of confidentiality, and also living happier lives as evident with the recent commissioning of the Kelsey Harrison Hospital and the Maxillofacial and Dental Hospitals in Port-Harcourt by His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS.
“We acknowledge the collaborative assistance of the United States Centre for Disease Control, the Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria, UNICEF, Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, other Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the media and other members of the Health Sector Control Team in the on-going control process”.
World AIDS Day, the Cmmissioner further stated, “is a day devoted to awareness creation, advocacy, and sensitization for consolidation of the on-going HIV/AIDS control programme. As usual, it brings together various stake-holders and partners who are engaged in the control of HIV epidemic worldwide”.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo