Worried by a report which put Akwa Ibom state as having the highest prevalence rate of HIV in the country and the negative impact on investors and intending visitors, the state government has debunked such claims arguing that there has been a drop in transmission from 10.8 percent in 2014 to 5.5 percent in 2018.
The state’s commissioner for health Dr. Dominic Ukpong who gave the hint at press conference in Uyo, the state capital on Tuesday said the scourge of the disease has since dropped
According to Dr. Ukpong, “The last nationally accepted HIV survey, prior to the NAIIS survey in 2018 was the ANC SENTINEL study in 2014 where the National prevalence was 3% while Akwa Ibom state prevalence was 10.8%. Arguably as it is being reported that the national prevalence has dropped from 3% (2014) to 1.4% (2018), similarly, that of Akwa Ibom State has dropped from 10.8% (2014) to 5.5% (2018).”
He said the state government is not only committed to providing basic infrastructure in the state but also committed to the health and wellbeing of the people.
The commissioner however, stated that the current HIV/AIDS situation in the state called for a more robust multi-sectorial response towards curbing the epidemic in the state, adding that government would step up collaboration through Akwa Ibom state Agency for the Control of AIDS (AKSACA) and Akwa Ibom state HIV /AIDS and STI Control Progamme (SASCP) with implementing partners.
