The Gombe state government has said it is committed to addressing the spread of HIV among women and children. It is also committed to the resuscitation of the health care sector for optimal control of HIV and AIDS.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, made the promise Wednesday when marking the 2022 World Aids Day at the ministry’s conference room.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s World AIDS Day tagged: “End inequalities. End AIDS”, the commissioner harped on the need for a concerted effort to reduce AIDS among women and children to its barest minimum in the state.
Dahiru said the state is winning the war against AIDS.
He added that “Gombe state has made considerable strides in combating HIV/AIDS and there have been significant improvements in the prevention, treatment, and care of HIV patients.
“We successfully reduced HIV prevalence from a peak of 5.8% in 2006 to 1.2% in 2021. Today, we have an estimated 43 thousand people living with HIV in the state, out of which we have identified and placed close to 70% (30 thousand) persons living with HIV on life-saving antiretroviral drugs.
The commissioner called for the enlightenment of citizens to end the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.
“To avoid HIV, we should continue to spread knowledge about abstinence, being faithful and correctly and consistently using condoms.
“We should raise awareness about the benefits of HIV testing, treatment, and drug adherence as a path to viral suppression.
He warned citizens of the state on the stigmatisation of people living with HIV/AIDS.
“We are unveiling a simplified version of our HIV anti-discrimination law today to demonstrate this administration’s commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030,” he said.
