40% Of HIV- Positive People Unaware – NACA DG

The Director- General of
the National Agency for the Control of AIDs (NACA), Professor John Idoko, says 40% of Nigerians living with HIV are unaware of it.
He stated this on Monday in Khana local government area headquarters at a 4-day HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT/Free medical outreach organized by NACA in collaboration with the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President (OSSAP) on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Prof. Idoko, who was represented at the occasion by the Acting Director of Programmes, NACA, Dr Priscilla Ibekwe, noted that 40% of people living with HIV in Nigeria only get to know about it at the point when they are ill and are taken to the hospital for test.
Consequently, she explained, the Federal Government, alongside other partners have deemed it necessary for individuals to embark on regular testing.
“In the United Kingdom, about five years ago, it (positive ignorant people) was about 30%, and they set up a campaign to get people to know their (HIV) status, and to make routine HIV testing in hospitals”, she said.
While hinting that the situation has changed for the better in the UK, Dr Ibekwe said in order to reverse the Nigerian situation, efforts are being made to decentralize the HIV testing mechanism across Nigeria.
According to her, HIV testing is gradually being instituted” at every hospital point, at every service delivery point. So, whether you have come for ante-natal clinic or the outreach patient department, or the emergency department, etc, you will be officially tested.
“People have HIV and they don’t know that they have it. The best way to get it done is for people to get tested’, she said.
Earlier in the opening ceremony of the four-day event, which started on Monday, the Executive Director of the Rivers State Agency for the Control of AIDs  (RIVSACA), Dr Chimezie Okeh, had in his welcome address urged the people of Khana local governemnt area, and its environs to take advantage of the programme to avail themselves of not only knowing their HIV status, but also being treated of other ailments associated with HIV, which the programme also offers.
Dr Okeh, who was represented by the Director, partnership Co-ordinator, RIVSACA, Dr Naaziga Francis, emphasized that the opportunity was a rare one and hence should be exploited to ensure that the aim of the programme is achieved.
Also speaking, the chairman of Khana local governemt area, Chief Hon. Gordon Tornwe, who was represented by his Supervisory Councilor for Health, Hon. Kennedy Friday, pledged the council’s support for the programme, noting that the local governemnt area, is concerned about the high HIV prevalence in the area.
Over 400 people attended the programme on Monday.

Soibi Max-Alalibo