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Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker says sustaining the fight against the scourge of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), requires collaboration between government, Civil Society Organisations (CSO), healthcare providers and communities.
Dr. Coker revealed this in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, during a press briefing heralding commemoration of 2024 World AIDS Day, with the theme, “Take the Right Path: Sustain HIV Response, Stop HIV among Children in Ogun State”, organised by Ogun State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OGSACA).
The Commissioner, who emphasised the need to intensify efforts in eradicating the spread of HIV/AIDS, particularly among the vulnerable, said adequate public awareness, as well as cooperation and support from the people were germane.
‘’Ogun is steadily progressing towards achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets—where 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those diagnosed were on treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression. Currently, the state stands at 95 percent, 76 percent and 83 percent across the three targets’’, she stated.
The Commissioner highlighted key initiatives driving the progress to include, creation of the Ogun State Alternate Medicine Board to support PMTCT efforts in in communities, engagement of additional implementing partner, to ensure that all HIV-positive pregnant women were linked to treatment, training of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) on HIV testing services and linkage, and many more.
Dr. Coker stressed that maintaining momentum of state HIV response requires a comprehensive approach, involving prevention, testing, treatment and support services, widespread education, promotion of safe practices, such as use of condom, among others, calling for increased funding for HIV programmes, tackling social determinants of health and strengthening community engagement.
Earlier in his address, Special Adviser to Governor on Media and Communication, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said it was imperative to scale-up awareness on HIV/AIDS through public enlightenment and education, in order to halt the scourge.
He assured that Ministry of Information and Strategy would continue to support the course of disseminating information against the spread of the virus.
In their separate remarks, representatives of development partners in the state, Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) and Damien Foundation, Belgium, Messrs Micheal Ohue and Edwin Osunde respectively, said fight against the infection was achievable, pledging to sustain their support to the state government in eliminating it.
