HIV: 81,871 People Infected In Ondo – SSG
The Chairman of the Ondo State Agency for the Control of AIDS and Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Sunday Abegunde, on Friday, disclosed that no fewer than 81,871 people have been infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) as at December, 2016 in the state.
Abegunde made the disclosure at the 2017 World Aids Day ceremony, held at the International Event Center, Akure, Ondo state.
According to the report presented by the SSG, 5,048 people were newly infected, while 8,048 were on treatment in the state.
He further disclosed that about 4,701 women were positive of the disease out of which 748 were on antiretroviral therapy in the year under review.
Abegunde said that the current administration in the state would not relent in its effort to ensuring that the disease was eradicated in the state.
The SSG also declared that the state had ” HIV zero-prevalence of 1.6 percent.”
He informed that the government has given priority attention in its agenda.
In his keynote address, the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who declared the event open, said that the state government had been up and doing to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of the disease and also preventing new infections within the state.
Akeredolu noted that the state government has been doing its best to protect the people living with HIV from being stigmatized.
According to the governor, “Awareness and mobilization is going to be scaled up in the state. In addition, an investment in testing, treatment and elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV will slow down the spread of HIV infection and lead to early treatment which is the key to viral suppression and long term survival.
“This treatment will also lead to reduced death and new infections among children. Also, the plight of the People Living with HIV is a major concern of this administration.”
While urging people to avoid multiple sex partners and non-use of condoms, Akeredolu said that the collective fight against HIV would reduce the prevalence of the disease.
