Niger Delta
HIV/AIDS: RSG To Give NACA More Support
The Rivers State Government has assured to support the National Agency for Control Of AIDS (NACA) in the creation of adequate awareness on HIV/AIDS in order to check its prevalence in the state.
Giving the assurance recently when the South-South Zonal Coordinator of NACA, Dr Uduak Daniel, paid him a familiarisation visit in his office in Port Harcourt, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communication, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, said the ministry will make its services available to NACA.
Such services include ensuring that the ministry plays its part in creating more awareness on HIV/AIDS, particularly through the state-owned media.
The Permanent Secretary also noted that the state government had also been supportive in HIV/AIDS activities.
According to the, Permanent Secretary, “It is this support from the state government, in collaboration with implementing partners that had helped to reduce HIV prevalence from 4.5 to the present 3.2 prevalence in the state.
He also urged NACA to build the capacity of health reports towards ensuring that journalists report HIV/AIDS with appropriate language to avoid stigmatization.
In the same vein, the chairman, Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Samuel Ogeh, offered to be the local person of HIV/AIDS in his office, based on the request of the South-South NACA boss.
According to Hon Ogeh, his decision to be the local person is necessitated by his willingness to also contribute towards checking HIV/AIDS prevalence in the state.
Towards this end, he assumed to facilitate a similar familiarization visit of the South-South zonal leadership of NACA to the state governor.
In both visits to the Permanent Secretary and the Chairman, House Committee on Health, the zonal NACA boss had informed them of NACA’s decision to decentralize its operations by creating zonal offices across the country to check the trend of HIV/AIDS, while also making requests geared towards enhancing the new focus of NACA in checking HIV/AIDS prevalence in the states and country.
In a post formalization tour interview, Dr Daniel stated that the focus of NACA is to ensure that there is no more increase in new HIV/AIDS infections in Rivers State.
“The prevalence has reduced, but new infections are still increasing, and that is where the main issue will be”.
So, what we need to do is to thank God that the Governor of Rivers State has also made health a priority. We need to have integrated services, and to know that we are able to generate data that will translate to programmes.
“We need to ensure that the grassroot, the people are aware, or HIV competent”, she said.
According to her, being HIV competent means that “They can fill you about HIV and HIV/AIDS so that they know exactly what steps to take ( to prevent infection).)
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
