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Rivers SACA Boss Identifies Milestone In HIV Response
The Acting Executive Director (ED) of the Rivers State Agency for the Control of AIDS (RIVSACA), Dr George Nwaeke, has identified improvements in HIV/AIDS response in Rivers State.
Nwaeke, who made the identification recently at a 2-day South-South HIV Media roundtable meeting in Port Harcourt, stated that such improvements are in about ten areas of HIV/AIDS response.
In his keynote address at the occasion, Nwaeke said one of such areas is in the increase of access to HIV/AIDS services across the 23 LGAs of the state and the removal of “User Fees” for HIV/AIDS services.
The ED, who was represented by the Programme Manager, RIVSACA, Dr Naaziga Francis, said the improvement was also in terms of increase in HIV treatment sites from five in 2010, to 86, and increase of HIV testing sites from 11 in 2010 to 367.
Others are increase in sites for Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS from six in 2010 to 115; increase in trained manpower for HIV response; and reduction in stigmatization.
He also stated that the state government has provided three Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines for Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), viral load testing, including hepatitis, which also serves as a testing hub for neighbouring southern states.
He used the opportunity to call on people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS to make it a priority to access these services.
In his remark at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor PaulinusNsirim, stated the importance of the meeting, noting its timelines in the face of the emergence of Covid-19, which attracted more public health concerns at the detriment of HIV/AIDS.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Director, Public Enlightenment of the ministry, Mr Celestine Ogolo, urged the media to bring back HIV/AIDS to the front burner.
“I think that this meeting has to find a way of encouraging the media to play their own part earnestly to ensure that HIV/AIDS is brought back to the front burner, so that our people won’t think that it’s over for HIV/AIDS”, he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, at the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Samuel Ogeh, assured participants at the meeting that the Legislature was ready to contribute its quota in HIV/AIDS response in the state by creating enabling laws.
He, however, charged relevant bodies such as RIVSACA to initiate necessary bills, assuring that it will be given priority hearing.
“It (Bill) will only come from you for me to push it. I am always available to work with you”, he said.
On her part, the South-South Zonal Coordinator of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr Uduak Daniel, explained that the meeting was “to better help the media understand HIV response”, adding that “this is the third activity in this process. The last activity will come out soon”.
By: Sogbeba Dokubo
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.