RSG To Inauguarate RIVSACA Board Soon

The Rivers State Government will soon inaugurate the board for rivers State Agency for the Control of AIDS (RIVSACA) to enable it carry out its functions effectively in the state.
This is pursuant to the signing into law of the bill transforming RIVSACA into an agency in May 2009.
Speaking during the flag-off of the development of the new State Strategic Plan (SSP) (2010-2015) for HiV/AIDS intervention yesterday, the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker said the inauguration of the board is essential in the state’s quest to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS to the barest minimum in Rivers state.
The commissioner stated that he was prepared to do everything possible to ensure that HIV/AIDS programme and health related matters are carried out effectively for posterity.
Dr. Parker also used the opportunity to urge the RIVSACA boss, Dr. Chimeizi Okeh to ensure that the strategic plan is ready so that HIV/AIDS activities can be integrated in the 160 Health Centres of the state.
On her part, Mrs. Irene Inimgba, chairman, House Committee on Health assured that her committee will collaborate with the State Ministry of Health to ensure that the RIVSACA Board is inaugurated not later than the first week of December, 2009.
While responding to a question on discrimination of people living positively, she also revealed that a bill has already been passed against stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS during employment and in their various workplace, urging those so discriminated upon to report such cases to her committee.
Mrs. Inimgba thanked the RIVSACA for involving key stakeholders in the development of the SSP. A situation which, she said, attracted commendable contributions from them.
While thanking the state Commissioner for Health for ensuring hat the health of Rivers people are taken seriously, Dr. Chimeizi Okeh , the programme manager of RIVSACA explained that the essence of the development of the SSP from 2010 to 2015 is to ensure that stakeholders working on HIV/AIDS contribute immensely to the six thematic areas of the National HIV/AIDS Response.
This workshop, he continued, will also serve as a guide to the implementation of various HIV/AIDS progammes in the state by stakeholders.
The six thematic areas in the SSP are: behavioural change and prevention of new HIV infection, treatment of HIV/AIDS and related health conditions as well as care and support for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and orphans and vulnerable children.
Others are institutional arrangement, infrastructure requirements and human/financial issues, policy, advocacy, legal and human rights, as well as monitoring and evaluation, research and knowledge management.

-Sogbeba Dokubo