Ogun, NGOs brainstorm to meet 90,90,90 initiatives on HIV/AIDS by 2020

The Ogun state Government in collaboration with Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria(IHVN), Catholic Cariyas Foundation of Nigeria/Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CCFN/CHAN) and Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative( AHNi) has joined forces to ensure total eradication of HIV/AIDS by 2020 and zero transmission by 2030 in the State through new strategy called 90,90,90 initiative.

Dr. Young Oluokun,     the IHVN, member, which is the leading partnership in the State,   disclosed   this to journalists recently, at a the two-day workshop by the   Ogun State HIV programme, State Implementation Team(SIT) stakeholders’ meeting, held at G.R.A Ibara Housing Estate in Abeokuta.

Dr. Oluokun said that at the World Conference on HIV/AIDS, it was agreed that by year 2020, 90 per cent of people are to be tested, 90 per cent of people tested positive should be placed on Anti-Ritroviral Drugs (ARD) and 90 per cent of people who are on ARD should achieved the stage of viral suppression called the U-NEED 90,90,90, adding that currently patients are usually placed on ARD that makes them live as long as 10 to 20 years.


 ‘’ New things that are coming up now that the rest of the wold is talking about is the 90,90,90 initiative agreed upon by the Wold Conference on HIV/AIDS, is that 90 per cent of people should be tested, 90 per cent tested positive be place on Anti-Ritroviral Drugs and 90 per cent place on ARD should achieve the stage of suppression called the U-NEED 90,90,90 and also to attain zero transmission by year 2030, which Nigeria has already key into,’’ Dr. Oluokun said.

While urging the State House of Assembly members to look into passing the stigmatization bill, Dr. Oluokun said another major challenges encountered was the low rate of staff strength across the health facilities in the State, saying that this was a threat that can drastically reduced the output of their mission in Ogun State.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Daisi Odeniyi, said the free HIV/AIDS counseling and testing activities conducted in some Local Government Areas of the State shows that Ifo has the highest number of positive patients, saying that with the help of the developmental partners collaborating with the State on issues concerning HIV/AIDS, we believe that the virus would be reduced to the bearest minmum.

The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director, State AIDS/STI Control Programme, Dr. Toyin Adeyemi, said the State has been more proactive with regards to eradicating HIV/AIDS among other diseases with the introduction of ARAYA Health Scheme, calling on well-meaning Nigerian and other developmental partners to join hands with the State Government in the campaign against the virus.

He said the present administration led by Senator Ibikunle Amosun is very much concerned with regards to health issues in the State, adding that the State is ready to partner with both foreign and local NGOs that would take the State to the next level on health related issues.

This story was published in Newswatch Times on October 22, 2015.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Insurgency: Nigerian Army Clears 25 More Children Of Links With Armed Groups, Says UNICEF

Image
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said Thursday that 25 more children had been freed from Nigerian Army administrative custody having been cleared of suspected links with armed groups. With this number, a total of 44 children had been released this year, bringing the number to 1,627 children since 2016, that is four years now, the UN agency for children has said. UNICEF which announced this in a press statement signed by its Communication Specialist, Dr. Geoffrey Njoku, specifically said, “Twenty-three boys and two girls were released today from Nigerian Army administrative custody after being cleared of suspected ties with armed groups. This brings the number of children released this year to 44,” it added. It bemoaned the discrimination, deprivation and cruelty which the children have suffered. “These are children taken away from their families and communities, deprived of their childhood, education, health-care, and of the chance to grow up in a safe and enabling envir
Read more

Limited Information Frustrates Young Women From Using Family Planning

Image
BY CHIOMA UMEHA, Awareness and proper understanding of family planning has been recognised to reduce maternal death among young women of reproductive age between 15 and 49. Data on Sexual Reproductive Health outcomes in Nigeria stresses the importance of focusing on adolescents. At 576 maternal death per 1,000 live births, Nigeria accounts for 14 percent of the global burden of maternal mortality (NDHS 2013/WHO 2014). Global evidence shows that young girls bear a higher burden of maternal mortality and morbidity. Data shows that the average age at sexual debut is roughly 15 years of age among adolescent mothers in Nigeria. (NDHS 2003, 2008, 2013). The National adolescent fertility rate in Nigeria is 122 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. In the North Western States, it is as high as 171 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 years. To stem this, the government of Lagos State with support from partners and other donor agencies has put in place youth-friendly he
Read more

PSN President Commissions ACPN National Secretariat

Image
Chioma Umeha History was made among the community pharmacists recently, as the national body of the Association of Community Pharmacists (ACPN) inaugurated its National Secretariat at Ikeja, Lagos State. The event was graced by many notable personalities in the pharmaceutical sector including, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, the president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) who commissioned the befitting edifice. Other notable guests at the event were – Dr. UNO Uwaga, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for ACPN; Pharm. Bukky George, the Managing Director of Healthplus, among many former presidents of different pharmaceutical bodies. Pharm. Yakasai stated that it was a thing of joy for him to see this development come to light. He said that he is ‘a proud father’ as the inauguration of the building was a “testimony of when you have a proud son who can carry out directives.” He described the secretariat as “A home for all pharmacists across board.”
Read more