Expert Wants HIV/AIDS Carriers To Access Drugs

The focal person in-charge of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTT) of HIV/AIDS in the Ministry of Health, Mrs Franca Idoniboyeobu, has lamented the decline in the number of affected persons accessing relevant drugs.

Mrs Idoniboyeobu stated this during a sensitisation programme  organised by Journalist Alliance for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (JAPPMTCT) in Port Harcourt recently.

She explained that a recent survey showed that out of every 100 women tested in Gokana Local Government  Area of the state, about 90 per cent were positive and that presents a dangerous scenario that requires enlightenment and sensitisation like the one undertaken by JAPPMTCT.

The PMTCT focal person urged the public to spread the message of HIV/AIDS and not the virus because it was real and advised people to test themselves to enable them prevent the transmission and live normal life.

Mrs Idoniboyeobu noted that people shy away from undertaking HIV/AIDS tests but remarked that it was better detected earlier to commence the use of necessary drugs and prevent spread to other persons because “when you hide sickness, the sickness will also hide you”.

She advised pregnant mothers to register in hospitals and be properly guided, pointing out that mother to child transmission is preventable with drugs that goes to the system and stop the virus at any level.

According to her, “if a woman infected fails to register for antenatal in hospital, she risks transmitting the virus to the unborn child”, adding that the men should encourage their wives to go to hospitals early when pregnant.

The focal person lauded JAPPMTCT members for organising the sensitisation programme and urged the participants to harness the knowledge gained to improve themselves and relations for a better life.

Also speaking the Director of Administration, Ministry of Employment Generation and Empowerment Mrs Ibiba Dokubo, thanked the journalists for the knowledge they had gained since knowledge is power.

Mrs Dokubo, assured that the message would be disseminated to others as they now appreciate better the issues of HIV/AIDS, especially the mother to child transmission.