Osun State has a 0.9 prevalent rate of HIV infection, which is below the national average, Dr Temitope Ilori, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, has revealed.
Ibori made the disclosure during the inauguration of the committee on prevention of mother to child transmission in Osogbo on Thursday.
While fielding questions from journalists, Ilori also said the establishment of the committee was necessary in order to ensure that no child is born with HIV Positive status again in the state.
“The committee which is a multi sectoral one that consist of media, professional bodies, traditional rulers ans religious bodies, OSACA and the Ministry of Health is to increase public awareness of HIV/AIDS. This is so because we are still having new infections. HIV/AIDS is still with us.
“Last year, we had 26,000 new infections among children 0-14 months and 15,000 AIDS related death among children 0-14 months. I think it is still a public threat. It is only when we work together with our state governors and local government agencies that we can stop the narrative.”
She also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had directed NACA to interact with the Osun State agency for Control of AIDS, SACA and also with people living with the disease.
“Aside from that we also want to empower our people by doing multi disease medical outreach and distributing of materials to vulnerable and young women.
“Like I said, I am here in three folds. We have inaugurated the committee on how to sustain our gains and to forge forward in other to ensuring that no child is born with HIV positive.
“This multiple disease outreach is to also let the people know their status so as to know their HIV status. With this programme, our people would be tested for HIV, malaria, diseases, blood pressure, sugar and so many other things.
“In short, we want our people to know their HIV status, once they know their status they can do the medication test so as to be enrolled and linked up to where they can access the medications free of charge in all our medical facilities.
“When they know their status, they can access the medications. I want to assure that the medications are free in all our primary health facilities. If you know your status and you are HIV possible, you can access your medications and be virally suppressed. This means that you can’t transmit the disease to anybody.
“Today, we have many HIV positive mothers that give birth to HIV negative children because they take their medications, and we equally have many HIV positive women that are married to HIV negative husband that remained HIV negative and so on and so forth.
“What we are saying in essence is that it is sacrosanct for everyone to know his or her status and use their medications whenever being tested and confirmed positive,” Ilori added.
Earlier, during her visit to the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, Ilori highlighted the agency’s vision of achieving an AIDS-free Nigeria and emphasised the critical role of state governments in achieving this goal.
Replying, Governor Adeleke represented by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to combating HIV/AIDS.
He applauded NACA’s initiatives and expressed gratitude for their support in improving healthcare delivery in the state.