HIV/AIDS: Rivers Screens 81,106 Pregnant Women

In commemoration of the World AIDs Day, the Rivers State government says a total of 81,106 pregnant women have been screened for HIV/AIDS, since 2005.

Addressing newsmen, Monday,  the  State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker, said that out of the number screened, 5,162 tested positive, but only 1,598 came back to receive preventive dose of Niverapine for safety and had their babies at a health facility.

He said, this year’s theme,  Universal Access and Human Rights, focuses on PMTCT and it’s expected to hold at Rumueprikom Primary Health Centre, Obio/Akpor local government area of the state, today,  the day set aside every year as World AIDS Day.

The health commissioner, called on World leaders to scale up access to HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and care, which he said are  fundamental human rights.

According to him, “World AIDS Day provides an opportunity for us all, to take action and ensure  that human rights are protected  and our targets for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care are met.

He said the  celebration would begin with a 500m AIDS walk from the Rivers State College of Arts and Science, Rumuola to the Primary Health Centre, Rumuepirikom and its expected to have wife of the state governor, Dame Judith Amaechi in the lead.

He observed that the present prevalence in the state is 7.4% as against the national 4.9%, making the disease one of the greatest challenges to  public health in the state and expressed the hope that the awareness raising strategy would provide an interface with core health sector interventions, namely HIV counseling and testing PMTCT, Paediatric HIV Treatment and Care, Antiretroviral Therapy, Behaviour  change communication  and care and support management, aimed at controlling the virus.

He urged pregnant women to avail themselves with the opportunity the sites affords and visit them.

Tonye Nria-Dappa