The manager in-charge of Local Committee On Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (LACA) in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, Mrs Happiness Ngbakiri has described as false, claims by some pastors of Penticostal churches in the country that they have spiritual powers to cure the dreaded HIV/AIDS.

Mrs Ngbakiri, delivering a lecture titled, “community Development and HIV/AIDS’ last Thursday at Ngbuoba Civic Centre, reiterated that “for now, HIV/AIDS has no cure, but can be treated.” She however, prayed for the discovery of a vaccine to contain it by health researchers with time.

The lecture was part of the end-of-year activities by the Rumuevorlu community, Rmuokwuta in Obio/Akpor Local Government area.

The LACA manager reminded the people that HIV/AIDS is contracted through sexual intercourse with infected person, sharing of infected sharp objects and blood as well as breast milk of infected mother.

She said as at last November, about 4.6 million persons were screened for the ailment in the area, pointing out that over 200 of them tested positive. Of the number, Mrs Ngbakiri hinted that majority of the careers were pregnant women, hence appealed that women should visit ante-natal clinics within the first month of pregnancy.

The LACA boss who condemned the discrimination and stigmatization of HIV/AIDS patients to encourage others submit themselves for screening, also kicked against siting of brothels around school premises and community utilities like water in obscure parts of the community to check illicit sex activities of youths.

Mrs Ngbakiri was also of the view that if people refrained from those things that led to HIV/AIDS and also prioritized the empowerment of youths through education for self-reliance, youths would no longer be lured into sex for money, which she said would check the prevalence of the disease.

According to her, if the active members of a community are infected by the disease, the development of the area would be in jeopardy.

Hamilton Amadi