World AIDS Day: Kano Govt pledges support to people living with HIV
NAN-HG-6
AIDS
By Aisha Ahmed
Kano, Dec. 1, 2016 (NAN) The Kano State Government has renewed its commitment to support people living with HIV/AIDS in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Getso, made the commitment on Thursday at a news conference to mark this year’s World AIDS day.
He said that Kano’s population was responsible for the high rate of HIV with sero-prevalence standing at about 2.1 per cent, which was below the national average of 3.6 per cent.
The 2.1 per cent if translated, the commissioner said, could be about 280,000 people living with the virus, with about 258,341 of them receiving treatment in 51 comprehensive sites.
The 2016 theme of the day, which was tagged “Access equity right now”, has called for a collective action to address the virus, according to him.
Getso charged all stakeholders to unite and reach people that lack access to treatment and support, in addition to uniting to overcome injustice, exclusion and discrimination.
He further called on the stakeholders to unite and repeal of any law that infringed on people’s human rights, and to seek equal participation as far as HIV status was concerned.
The Ganduje administration, he said, had increased funding for HIV and has procured tests kids and antiretroviral drugs as well as other consumables for HIV testing worth more than N4 million. (NAN)
AAA/MST/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola