Health

Osun Plans to Redouble Effort on Paediatric HIV Case, Tuberculosis Treatment

By Web News 445

By Funmi Adekoya

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke says his administration will double its effort at improving Childhood Tuberculosis and Paediatric HIV case detection and treatment.

Governor Adeleke stated this at the handing-over over of the Tuberculosis Situation Room renovated and upgraded by the Tuberculosis Data Impact and Communication Hub, TB-DIAH, funded by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, and support from National Tuberculosis Leprosy Control Program, to the state government at State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo.

The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Mr. Jola Akintola noted that Osun State had been on the top list of states in Nigeria that had demonstrated strong commitment to eradicate Tuberculosis.

He explained that the state detected and placed on treatment 22,799 tuberculosis cases in 2022 while the state notified 25,000 tuberculosis cases in 2023 which showed more commitment to eradicating Tuberculosis cases.

Governor Adeleke commended the good leadership and coordination of the state Tuberculosis Team work which he said was the reason for the success recorded by the state in eradicating tuberculosis.

The Governor added that the government is concluding a plan to procure additional Tuberculosis testing machines to enhance the already overloaded thirteen GeneXpert machine sites in the state.

Presenting the handover documents to the Governor, The leader of the team, Tuberculosis Data Impact and Communication Hub, TB-DIAH, USAID and National Tuberculosis Leprosy Control Program, Dr. Abiodun Hassan urged the state government to utilize the situation room to upgrade TB data in the state.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Isiaka Adekunle had said that the Situation Room would ease the generation of TB data and communication with all Tuberculosis centres across the state.

Health

HIV test, treatment, free at government facilities – OYSACA Boss

By Web News 697

The Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Agency for the Control of Aids, OYSACA, Dr Lanre Abass, has advised Nigerians to imbibe a positive way of living by knowing their Human immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, status.

Dr Abass who gave the advice during a road walk in commemoration of 2022 World AIDS Day said the aim of the walk was to sensitize people on how to prevent contracting HIV.

He also noted that prompt medications could reduce the infections in the body of those infected.

The OYSACA Executive Secretary who led the Road Walk explained that HIV tests and treatment are free at government-owned medical facilities.

Dr Abass pointed out that about 32,000 persons in Oyo State were currently living with the virus with women having the highest number.

 In an address, the wife of Oyo State and Chairperson of the Board of OYSACA, Mrs Tamunomini Makinde while lamenting the high number of women living with HIV, said all forms of Gender Based Violence, GBV especially against the female gender should be eradicated while advocating opportunity for womenfolk to negotiate safe sex even in marriage.

This, she noted, would help in achieving an HIV-free generation and ensure the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of the virus. 

The Road Walk took off from the agency’s Office at Agodi and terminated at Bodija Market with free HIV Counseling and tests for traders.

Fasilat Lawal

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Health

Taraba Begins Mass Testing As 77 Confirmed HIV Positive

By Web News 533

Taraba State government has embarked on mass testing for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV, in the state.

This was disclosed by the Taraba AIDS Control Agency (TACA) during a weekly review meeting held in Jalingo, the state capital.

The agency revealed that the state has 36,396 people who are currently victims of HIV and are also receiving treatment.

According to TACA, the positive results of the 77 people were obtained from the 2,156 people tested across the 16 LGAs of the state last week.

The Director-General of the agency, Dr. Garba Danjuma while speaking at the meeting noted that the viruses are the key setback to the elimination of HIV worldwide.

He revealed that 20,200 of the victims that are currently receiving treatment are virally suppressed, while the results of 77 out of the 2,150 people tested last week turned positive.

Dr. Danjuma, however, assured residents that the agency in synergy with development partners would continue to create awareness for the public to reduce new infections across the state.

TACA Media Advocacy Team reports that the agency targets 2030 to ensure zero new infections of HIV in the state.

FRCNAbuja/Adetutu Adetule

Health

WORLD AIDS DAY: Expert Calls For Increased Advocacy On Protection Of HIV/AIDs Patients

By Web News 718

Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, ANPMP, wants individual Nigerians to take responsibility for their health by protecting themselves from HIV and AIDS infection while also preventing the further spread from those living with the virus. 

Ogun State Chairman of the Association, Dr Adeneye Kusimo made the call in Abeokuta on the occasion of this year’s World AIDS day with the theme “END INEQUALITIES, END AIDS, END PANDEMICS.

Dr Kusimo canvassed individual discipline with respect to rightful cohabitation as well as the need for extreme caution in the interpersonal use of sharp objects and equipment among other probable sources of the infection. 

He also called for increased advocacy on the need for Nigerians to show love, rather than discriminating against people living with HIV and AIDS, noting that the fear of stigmatisation could prevent people from accessing the avenues for testing and comprehensive medication for the disease. 

The Chairman, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners called on the global community to invest in aggressive and progressive treatment of patients while encouraging pregnant women to embrace proper antenatal care with routine tests and treatment to protect the mother and child. 

Dr Kusimo advocated collective efforts to tackle the disease and the need for awareness in the communities to enable individuals to come forward to know their status and take advantage of the free medication being offered to those living with the disease.

Olusegun Folarin

Health

HIV/AIDS: Osun Assembly Passes Anti- Discrimination Bill

By Web News 661 Post a comment

Osun HIV/AIDS Anti-discrimination Bill 2020 has passed through the second reading on the floor of the Osun House of Assembly.

This follows a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Mr. Maruf Olanrewaju and seconded by the Chief Whip, Mr. Tunde Olatunji after deliberations on the Policy Trust of the Bill by members of the House.

Commenting on the Policy Trust of the Bill, Mr. Olanrewaju said the passage of the Bill would protect the right and dignity of people living with HIV/AIDS as well as eradicate stigmatization.

He said the Bill would also give the people sense of belonging by being employed without discrimination as the Bill does not support medical test before employment.

Some Lawmakers in their remarks noted that if the budget is implemented it would remove all forms of victimization and isolation of people living with HIV/AIDS in the society.

They called for the speedy passage of the Bill noting that being infected by HIV/AIDS should not be a barrier to living a normal life.

The Speaker, Mr. Timothy Owoeye in his remark noted that HIV/AIDS is not a death penalty for the carrier but stigmatizing them could cause depression and mental trauma leading to untimely death of the person.

Funmi Adekoya

Health

OSHA Passes Two Medical Related Bills

By Web News 689

Two Bills, Osun Private Veterinary Premises and Ambulatory Practice  (Regulatory) Bill 2020 and Osun HIV and AIDS Anti-discrimination Bill 2020 have passed through the first reading on the floor of the Osun House of Assembly.

The Bills was sent to the Assembly as contained in a letter from the Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola.

The Osun Private Veterinary Premises and Ambulatory Practice  (Regulatory) Bill 2020 seek to prevent unregistered and quacks veterinary doctors from practicing as well as improve the state Internally Generated Revenue.

Osun HIV and AIDS Antidiscrimination Bill 2020 when passed into law would protect the right and dignity of people living with HIV thereby eradicate stigmatization.

In his remark, the Speaker, Mr. Timothy Owoeye said the House would do justice to the passage of the Bills to enhance the living standard of the people of the State.

Mr. Owoeye also urged his colleagues to brace up for the process of all pending Bills before the Assembly for speedy passage.

Funmi Adekoya

Health

World AIDS Day: Stake Holders Emphasise the Need for Testing

By Web News 704

In celebration of world AIDS Nigerians have been reminded of the need to get tested on HIV/AIDS, in the midst of tackling COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ogun state AIDS programme coordinator, Ministry of Health, Mrs Olufunke Adu gave the advice while featuring on a Paramount FM morning programme.

Mrs Adu said though COVID-19 came with a lot of health challenges, there was the need to which necessitated the launch of HIV self-help test kit.

Also speaking, Mrs Tope Adesina from Ijebu-Ode local AIDS committee agency, LACA, called for support from individuals, governments and non-governmental organizations on the need to assist carriers of the virus.

Mrs Adeshina noted that there was a law against discriminating against people hiding with HIV-AIDS.

Modupeola Sobukonla

Health

HIV: Ministry Gives Prominence to Sex Education in Ekiti

By Web News 756

The Ekiti State Ministry of Education says it will continue to collaborate with the State Aids Control Agency, SACA to sustain the low prevalence of HIV in the state.

The Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Mr. Foluso Daramola made this known during a meeting with the Management of Ekiti State Aids Control Agency, EKSACA in Ado Ekiti.

Mr. Daramola pledged that the Ministry would assist in area of giving prominence to sex education curriculum in Senior Secondary Schools.

The commissioner advised schools that were yet to establish AIDS clubs to urgently do so and make it functional in order to reduce the spread of HIV in the society.

Mr. Daramola called on the EKSACA to embark on an aggressive advocacy and awareness campaign to all parts of the State on the dangers associated with the spread of the virus.

Earlier, the Project Manager, Ekiti State Aids Control Agency,  Dr. Charles Doherty said that about fifty million Naira had been expended on advocacy, sensitization and awareness campaign on how to reduce the spread of HIV in the state in the last four years.

Dr. Doherty sought the support and cooperation of the Ministry in the area of encouraging the administrators both in public and private schools across the state to key into the vision and mission of SACA for reducing HIV prevalence in the State to minimal level.

Ogunride Amos