Rivers SACA Boss Identifies Milestone In HIV Response

The Acting Executive Director (ED) of the Rivers State Agency for the Control of AIDS (RIVSACA), Dr George Nwaeke, has identified improvements in HIV/AIDS response in Rivers State.
Nwaeke, who made the identification recently at a 2-day South-South HIV Media roundtable meeting in Port Harcourt, stated that such improvements are in about ten areas of HIV/AIDS response.
In his keynote address at the occasion, Nwaeke said one of such areas is in the increase of access to HIV/AIDS services across the 23 LGAs of the state and the removal of “User Fees” for HIV/AIDS services.
The ED, who was represented by the Programme Manager, RIVSACA, Dr Naaziga Francis, said the improvement was also in terms of increase in HIV treatment sites from five in 2010, to 86, and increase of HIV testing sites from 11 in 2010 to 367.
Others are increase in sites for Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS from six in 2010 to 115; increase in trained manpower for HIV response; and reduction in stigmatization.
He also stated that the state government has provided three Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines for Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), viral load testing, including hepatitis, which also serves as a testing hub for neighbouring southern states.
He used the opportunity to call on people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS to make it a priority to access these services.
In his remark at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor PaulinusNsirim, stated the importance of the meeting, noting its timelines in the face of the emergence of Covid-19, which attracted more public health concerns at the detriment of HIV/AIDS.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Director, Public Enlightenment of the ministry, Mr Celestine Ogolo, urged the media to bring back HIV/AIDS to the front burner.
“I think that this meeting has to find a way of encouraging the media to play their own part earnestly to ensure that HIV/AIDS is brought back to the front burner, so that our people won’t think that it’s over for HIV/AIDS”, he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, at the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Samuel Ogeh, assured participants at the meeting that the Legislature was ready to contribute its quota in HIV/AIDS response in the state by creating enabling laws.
He, however, charged relevant bodies such as RIVSACA to initiate necessary bills, assuring that it will be given priority hearing.
“It (Bill) will only come from you for me to push it. I am always available to work with you”, he said.
On her part, the South-South Zonal Coordinator of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr Uduak Daniel, explained that the meeting was “to better help the media understand HIV response”, adding that “this is the third activity in this process. The last activity will come out soon”.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo