The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) has called on the Taraba State Government to comply with the global-based recommendations by allocating 15 percent of the state’s budget to the health sector.
The Taraba State Chapter of the group also called on the state House of Assembly to prioritize the disease in their budgetary allocation for the year 2015/2016.
The call was made on Tuesday during the commencement of a five-day massive awareness campaign on the disease by NEPWHAN in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) -SURE-P HIV/AIDS programme.
National Coordinator of NEPWHAN, Edward Ogenyi, expressed dismay at the way and manner the disease has being on the increase in the state.
In Taraba State, the HIV prevalence is 10,5 percent which is above the national average of 3,1.
“The total number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the state is about 110 849 and those eligible for HIV treatment is 54 120,” Ogenyi noted.
He felt sad that people currently only 27 000 were receiving treatment.
Ogenyi said the five day awareness campaign which would be carried out in five local government councils of the state would avail the group the opportunity to carry out HIV counseling and testing.
“This is one of the most important steps towards ending AIDS epidemic. It is very essential because HIV counseling and testing is very important for everyone as it is an entry point towards accessing quality health care and social services,” he said.
He stressed the need for the people to come out in their numbers and get tested.
Ogenyi encouraged all pregnant women to go for HIV test to save future generation.
Representative of the State Government, Dr Musa Obadiah, said government had set aside about N500 million to confront the disease.
The Taraba State Chapter of the group also called on the state House of Assembly to prioritize the disease in their budgetary allocation for the year 2015/2016.
The call was made on Tuesday during the commencement of a five-day massive awareness campaign on the disease by NEPWHAN in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) -SURE-P HIV/AIDS programme.
National Coordinator of NEPWHAN, Edward Ogenyi, expressed dismay at the way and manner the disease has being on the increase in the state.
In Taraba State, the HIV prevalence is 10,5 percent which is above the national average of 3,1.
“The total number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the state is about 110 849 and those eligible for HIV treatment is 54 120,” Ogenyi noted.
He felt sad that people currently only 27 000 were receiving treatment.
Ogenyi said the five day awareness campaign which would be carried out in five local government councils of the state would avail the group the opportunity to carry out HIV counseling and testing.
“This is one of the most important steps towards ending AIDS epidemic. It is very essential because HIV counseling and testing is very important for everyone as it is an entry point towards accessing quality health care and social services,” he said.
He stressed the need for the people to come out in their numbers and get tested.
Ogenyi encouraged all pregnant women to go for HIV test to save future generation.
Representative of the State Government, Dr Musa Obadiah, said government had set aside about N500 million to confront the disease.
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