Governor Chukwuma Soludo has said that plans are on to enroll people living with HIV/AIDS into the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme, ASHIS to ensure they have access to all round healthcare service.

 

Governor Soludo stated this at a one-day symposium held in Awka with the theme “Communities: Leadership to end AIDS by 2030″.

The symposium was organized by the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency ANSACA in collaboration with the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS, UNAIDS.

 

It had medical and health personnel, community stakeholders and representatives of development partners in attendance.

The World AIDS Day is one of the eleven official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organisation that is observed every December 1 to encourage people around the world unite and show support for people living with HIV, remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses, and inform people that HIV is still in existence.

 

While noting that Anambra and three states have been selected to benefit from a health insurance scheme that will see to the enrollment of AIDS patients, Governor Soludo represented by Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike disclosed that statistics show that two point four percent of Anambra population which is about ninety eight thousand, nine hundred and sixty people are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS and are receiving treatment in the one point one eight two zero centres in the state.

Governor Soludo also said that a huge number of HIV/AIDS patients are yet to be reached, adding that stakeholders’ engagement is important so as to intensify the campaign for testing and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

For the Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Somtochukwu Udeze, represented by Chairman, House Committee on Health, Honourable, Tony Muobike, reduction in stigma, lots of understanding and assistance from development partners will go a long way in ending the scourge of HIV and AIDS.

 

He restated the readiness of the House of Assembly to work with every stakeholder to ensure that the state achieves its objectives in eradication of AIDS through ANSACA.

The Executive Director of Anambra State AIDS Control Agency, ANSACA, Mr. Johnbosco Ementa in his speech, explained that the mission of the agency is to ensure adequate knowledge and access to HIV/AIDS prevention tools needed to reduce HIV transmission.

 

Also speaking, the Programme Manager of UNAIDS, Dr. Adaora Anosike, the representative of Archiving Health Nigeria Initiatives, AHNI, Dr. Onyeka Ugwu and Francis Franci of Association of Positive Youth Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria shared their major achievements implementing HIV/AIDS campaigns, describing it as positive journey so far.

The traditional ruler of Okpuno, Igwe Sunday Okafor who was worried that the disease has remained prevalent, advocated that community stakeholders should be engaged more and regularly to ensure there is drastic reduction in the spread of the disease in the state.

 

Highlights of the events were panel discussions and award presentations.

 

 

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