Doctors take HIV campaign to AMAC community

By Ahmid Lawal

Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the under umbrella of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) yesterday took campaign on awareness of HIV to Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in commemoration of its Health Week.
President of the Association, Dr Isaac O. Akerele, at a media chat, said “this became necessary so as to educate Nigerians on how t play safe as they will distribute condoms, free HIV testing and treatment, counselling and other materials.”

According to him, all Federal Government hospitals will be activated to treat People with HIV, free testing and treatment in partnership with Red cross , UNAID and other agencies.
He explained that other part of the activities to mark the Health week are Road walk from Area 10, Area 11 and the Federal Secretariat, advocacy, free testing, treatment for patients and counselling .
Other parts of their advocacy ,according to Akerele is on committing of ownership on HIV care, lamenting that patients with this deadly virus cant access the health care due to lack of funding .
He explained doctors were advocating committing of ownership in order to work and ensure that the federal government “gives enough capacity to the community, NGOs, WHO to administer free HIV care.”

“This committing ownership will help in administering HIV drugs to patients, keep appointment with them and reminding them when they need to take their drugs. We also need to train those who are in our cadre to assist at the level of the community,” he said.
He explained other parts of the activities for the health week which included thanksgiving service, social interaction “will also encourage doctors and other health care givers to participate in the election for members to vote for people who can project their welfare at the front burner.”
Akerele commended members of the association, the management and also the Minister of the FCT for approving land for doctors, clearing of arrears and also keeping of doctors.
He urged the minister to make the Certificate of Ownership (C of O) of lands allocated them accessible.