Persons living with HIV and aids in Nasarawa State have called on the state government to take proactive steps towards full enforcement of the anti stigma and discrimination law to end the prevalence of the epidemic.
The State Coordinator of Network of People Living with HIV and Aids in Nigeria NEPWHAN, Mr Philip Lokoko made the call during a Media roundtable on the implementation of Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health Project in Lafia the Nasarawa State capital.
The media roundtable was to brief stakeholders including religious and traditional leaders , community based organizations, heads of health agencies in the state on the level of implementation of the Nigeria Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health Project funded by Global Fund to tackle prevalence of Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Nasarawa State Coordinator, Network of People Living with HIV and Aids in Nigeria, NEPWHAN, Mr Philip Lokoko said much needed to be done in the area of sensitization and funding to mitigate the prevalence of HIV especially in the rural areas.
He stated that the advocacy role of Community Based Organizations had recorded significant success in ensuring that the rural poor and vulnerable groups had access to health care since the commencement of the implementation of the Nigeria Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health Project in 2022.
Nasarawa State Executive Director Aids Control Agency, Dr. Ruth Bello pointed out that the drive to end HIV and Aids in the country by 2030 was a collective effort.
The State Project Officer , Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health Project, Mrs Patience Samson explained that the programme was implemented in five local government areas of Nasarawa state.
State Secretary Jama’atul Nasril Islam,JNI, Imam Muhammad Ali and representative of Christian Association of Nigeria CAN elder Samson Osuo stressed the need for government and community based organizations to focus more on the need to show love , acceptance and access to health care for people affected by Aids and Tuberculosis.
