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World AIDS Day: Coalition targets 30,000 for HIV/AIDS counseling, testing

World AIDS Day: Coalition targets 30,000 for HIV/AIDS counseling, testing
By Vivian Ihechu
HIV/AIDS
Lagos, Nov. 30, 2018 (NAN) A national advocacy campaign on HIV/AIDS says it is targeting over 30,000 persons across multiple communities in eight high risk states in Nigeria from Nov. 30.
The campaign, organised by the Red Ribbon Coalition comprising Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF), Society for Family Health (SFH), Development Communications Network and convened by Coca-Cola Nigeria is part of activities to mark 2018 World AIDS Day.
The Nigeria Red Ribbon, a group of NGOs, business concerns and private sector players, was inaugurated in 2015 to contribute its quota to the National AIDS Response.
The theme for 2018 World AIDS day, which is commemorated annually on Nov. 30, has its theme as: “Know Your Status”.

Photo:

From L-R: Mrs Iwalola Akin-Jimoh,Executive Director, Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF): Funke Adewoyin of the Society for Family Health and Adewunmi Ojoye of the Society For Family Health at a News Conference to mark 2018 World AIDS Day in Lagos (NAN)

At a news conference on Friday in Lagos, Mrs Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, the Executive Director, Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF), said there was need to intensify advocacy and campaign against HIV, especially to teenagers and young adults.
“This will enlighten them on the need to know their status, how to be guided if positive, how to reduce viral load and reduce high risk behaviour so as not to get the virus.
“On this year’s event, the coalition targets over 30,000 people across eight sites nationwide.
“HIV infection has spread over the last 32 years in Africa since it was first discovered and has continued to have a great impact on health, welfare and employment, affecting all social and ethnic groups throughout the world.’’
Photo:
She said: “It is estimated that about 3,229,757 people living with HIV in Nigeria and about 220,393 new HIV infections occurred in 2013 and 210,031 died from AIDS-related cases.
“HIV prevalence among adults in Nigeria is relatively low (3.2 per cent), yet Nigeria is an enormous country where HIV infection remains an issue that demands a systematic and highly tailored intervention.
“As of 2012 in Nigeria, the HIV prevalence rate among adults ages 15–49 was 3.1 per cent; Nigeria has the second-largest burden of HIV globally.
“The HIV epidemic in Nigeria is complex and varies widely by region.
“Nine per cent of all PLWHA globally live in Nigeria with the country accounting for about 3.2 million people living with HIV.
“There are also 220,000 new HIV infection and about 210,000 AIDS-related deaths (14 per cent of the global total), hence the need to intensify awareness and treatment,’’ Akin-Jimoh said.
Also, Funke Adewoyin of SFH said: “The number of people estimated to be receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) was 747,382 with 3.0 million adult populations estimated to be living with the disease as of 2014.
“Albeit due to its population size, Nigeria has the second largest HIV disease burden in the world, with 3.2 million people living with HIV.
“This is after South Africa which has 6.8 million burden of the disease though prevalence is stable at 3.4 per cent, according to the (National HIV/AIDS Reproductive Health Survey 2012.
“This year’s advocacy campaign by the coalition targets multiple communities across eight high-risk states in Nigeria through a combination of activities.
“The activities include media awareness, voluntary counselling and testing, public education and awareness sessions, and entertainment using drama and football.
“The target for this year is to reach from 30,000 to 40,000 people across eight sites including Lagos, Oyo, FCT Abuja, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Gombe and Kano,’’ she said.
Inaugurated in 2015, the past projects by the coalition have brought together leading stars in Nigeria’s football, music, comedy, and movie industry to work together as advocates for the fight against HIV.
“Activities to commemorate the World AIDS Day campaign include HIV counselling and testing at Ajah, Lagos, by counsellor testers of the Society for Health (SFH).
“There will be a 2-week long voluntary counselling and testing session which begins on Friday, Nov. 30 and ends Dec. 15 and a Novelty Match to close out the event,’’ Adewoyin said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World AIDS Day is a day globally set aside to provide an opportunity for people to unite in the fight against HIV, show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. (NAN)
VIV/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

3m test for HIV in FCT in 2016 – FACA

3m  test for HIV in FCT in 2016 – Official

NAN-HG-4

HIV/AIDS

By Mustapha Sumaila

Abuja, April 3, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory (FCT’s) Agency For Control of HIV/AIDS (FACA) says no fewer  than three million residents underwent HIV/AIDS tests in 2016, with only three per cent positive cases.

Dr Uche Okoro, the Project Manager of the agency, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) still has the highest figure of persons living with HIV followed by Bwari.

The manager revealed that 120,000 infected persons were treated across health centres in FCT as at December 2016.

According to him, free testing and treatment as a method of combatting the disease has reduced the prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the territory.

He also said  the method has proven cost effective.

He explained that Nigeria embraced the approach  in 2015 following the United Nations resolution at the 2014 high level General Assembly meeting on ending AIDS.

Okoro said FACA started the pilot programme of the test-and-treat method in  Abuja Municipal and Bwari councils  in 2015, and that it has expanded to the remaining four  councils in 2017.

The official stated that the test-and-treat method has also served as preventive measure which is better and cheaper.

“There are cases we have here where one of the couple was infected with the virus and the other one was not. The infected one was taking the treatment and also still having sexual intercourse with his partner and did not infect her.

“And if  such couple had a baby; the child was also not infected because within six months of treatment, the viral load has dropped therefore such affected person cannot transmit it to others,” he said.

He maintained that treatment of a positive person is for life in spite of the fact the preventive measure adopted by government is aimed at reducing the HIV prevalence.

He said that FACA would continue to work with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and other development partners in Nigeria to eradicate the disease. (NAN)

MS/OSA/MST

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

New HIV/AIDS: Expert recommends adequate testing, counselling

New HIV/AIDS: Expert recommends adequate testing, counselling

NAN-HG-6

HIV/AIDS

By Yinusa Ishola

Omu-Aran (Kwara), March 9, 2017 (NAN) Mr Mathew Awoyiola, HIV/AID Coordinator for Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, has recommended adequate testing and counselling to achieve zero tolerance to new HIV/AIDS infection.

Awoyiola made the recommendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Omu-Aran on Thursday.

He said that the call became necessary in order to prevent new HIV infection through mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) among pregnant women.

Awoyiola said the call for adequate deployment of resources by government toward HIV/AIDS testing and counselling was basically targeted at curbing new HIV infections as being championed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

He said that the Kwara State Aids Control Agency (KWASACA) in conjunction with the council’s Action Committee on HIV/AIDS had recently organised a workshop on HIV/AIDS in the area.

Awoyiola said the workshop which was targeted at long distance drivers, health attendants, pregnant women and TBL/HIV coordinators, was aimed at improving their knowledge of HIV/AIDS scourge.

He disclosed that an unborn child without any medical intervention has about 40 per cent chance of being infected

“It becomes a double tragedy and a complex situation when an unborn child contacts HIV from a positive mother which deprived the child of a normal healthy living, even before birth.

“Without doubt adequate testing and counselling for pregnant women, especially during antenatal care, will go a long way to reduce cases of mother-to-child-transmission,” Awoyio said.

The coordinator said although the HIV prevalence rate in the country had decreased from 5.8 per cent in 2001 to 4.4 per cent presently, saying the disease is still a long way from being brought under control.

“In fact, we should redouble our efforts; young people still represent the most affected age group.

“One in 20 young people aged 20 to 29 years old are infected by HIV.

“There is also an estimated 1.8 million children orphaned by AIDS in Nigeria, adding that MTCT accounted for three to 10 per cent of HIV infections in the country.

“With the introduction of core MTCT interventions in the developed countries, the rates had fallen to as low as two per cent.

“ The entry-point for prevention of MTCT services is through HIV testing of pregnant women attending antenatal care.

“HIV testing and counselling should be offered to all pregnant women seeking these services, and service providers should also mobilise them to go for testing,” he said.

He listed the benefits of testing and counselling as reinforcement of safe sex practices and empowering of HIV-negative pregnant woman to remain negative and provide opportunity for referrals.

Awoyiola highlighted other challenges facing HIV/AIDS testing and counselling to include additional work-load and stress for healthcare providers as well as limited space for counselling.  (NAN)

ISHO/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Anaemia: Agency conducts genotype testing‎ for intending couples in Bauchi

Anaemia: Agency conducts genotype testing‎ for intending couples in Bauchi

NAN-HG-7 Sickle cell

Bauchi, Jan. 30, 2017 (NAN) The Bauchi State Primary Health Care Agency (BSPHCA) says has embarked on counseling and testing of blood genotype for intending couples to reduce transmission of sickle cell anaemia to family members.

The Monitoring Officer in charge of the agency, Mr Abdurashid Bashir, disclosed this on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi.

According to him, more people are getting to know their genotype groups to enable them make informed decisions among married and intending couples through the counselling and testing services.

He said that the agency has also introduced weekly outreach campaigns on Wednesdays and Thursdays for various tests and routine immunisation.

“Under the platform of counselling and testing of intended couples, we have introduced genotype testing as well.

“This is to educate and guide intending couples in making inform decisions concerning marriages and reproduction.

“It will prevent further procreation of sickle cell babies and for those that are married, we encouraging family planning.

“We provide stands and sitting arrangement during outreach to ensure that members of the public are comfortable while conducting such tests and immunisations as well,” he said. (NAN)

AE/ESAN/MST

Edited by Abiodun Esan/Muhammad Suleiman Tola