600,000 HIV/AIDS patients living in Kaduna

Two civil society organisations- the Civil Society on
HIV&AIDS in Nigeria and the Network of People
Living with HIV&AIDS in Nigeria- on Monday in
Kaduna criticised the state government for not doing
enough for those living with HIV/AIDS in the state.
The groups said no fewer than 600,000 persons,
representing 9.2 per cent, second to Port Harcourt, are
living with the HIV virus in the state.
The organisations said the state government, in spite of the
high figure, seemed not to be committed to tackling the
disease, thereby abandoning patients and children orphaned
by HIV and AIDS.
Addressing a press conference in the state capital to mark
the 2014 World AIDS Day, the groups regretted that
the coordination, care and support for persons living with
HIV/AIDS in the state had been relegated to the
background.
Emmanuel Bonet, who read a prepared text on behalf of
the groups, said as the world tried to put its acts together
in closing the gap on HIV prevention and treatment, the
future remained bleak for Kaduna as things had been
deteriorating.
Bonet noted that even with the presence of additional
development partners bringing in resources to support
government’s efforts, the apex body saddled with the
responsibility for the coordination of the HIV intervention
in the state had not lived up to expectation.
Bonet therefore urged the state government to increase
funding of HIV&AIDS activities, beginning with the
release of funds under the Presidential Comprehensive
Response Plan, which he said was already contained in
the 2014 budget as well as to ensure that evidence,
competence and professionalism take priority over politics
and religious sentiments.
He said the government should, as a matter of urgenc,
“approve the last phase of the World Bank grant to enable
civil society organisations implement evidence-based
projects across the 23 local government areas of the state.
“Ensure that the Ministry of Women Affairs takes up its
responsibility and assumes the driver’s seat on issues of
orphans and other vulnerable children and women in
Kaduna State.”
In his contribution, Benjamin Angboson, one of the leaders
of the groups, said with the current population of 600,000
persons living with the virus, the state ought to be seen
fighting against the scourge with all sincerity.
He added that current national reports ranked Kaduna
second to Rivers State with 9.2 per cent HIV
prevalence rate.
Angboson said, “600,000 persons living with HIV in the
state is second to Rivers. Benue used to be second but the
current statistics show that Kaduna State is 9.2 per cent
HIV prevalence rate. The state needs to take proactive
measures so that the state do not record high rate of
orphans and widows.”