Aids red alert as agency says 15,000 people living with HIV in Ebonyi State

The Ebonyi State Agency for Control of Aids (EBOSACA) has revealed that a staggering 15,000 people in the state are living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which is a one-step away from full-blown aids, the incurable secually transmitted disease that has killed millions across the world over the years.

Executive Secretary and Programmes Manager of the agency, Chibueze Iteshi, who disclosed this to newsmen in Abakaliki, the state capital, regretted that the prevalent rate increases among persons between ages of 18 and 35 on a quarterly basis.

Consequently, he announced plans for aggressive sensitization of the populace on HIV/AIDS yet-to-be-checked deadliness, assuring that all the nooks and crannies of the Ebony will be reached with information on prevention measures and need for regular testing for early detection and treatment.

Iteshi, who expressed displeasure that out of the 719 health facilities in the state, only 56 carry out HIV services, called for involvement of more partners, Civil-Based Organizations (CBOs), health facilities and stakeholders in the fight against the virus in the State.

He appreciated Governor Francis Nwifuru for ensuring that the agency was captured in the state 2024 budget as against the alleged neglect it suffered in the past nine years and assured that the agency would not relent in carrying out its core mandates.

He encouraged residents, especially youths to always go for regular HIV testing, imbibe good hygiene practices and have healthy lifestyles.

Iteshi called for a permanent end to discrimination against people living with the virus, noting that it now attracts either a fine of N250,000 or one year imprisonment or both for offenders especially at work places in line with the “HIV and AIDS Anti – Discrimination Act 2014” in the state.

The EBOSACA boss assured that with early detection of the virus, prompt and adequate use of antiretroviral drugs,any infected person can still live out his or her full life span with suppressed viral load.

“We shall engage stakeholders in advocacy visits in terms of collaboration. We have visited ALGON chairman who promised to get involved with other 13 LGA chairmen and development centers coordinators for the sensitization of preventive measures,” he said.

“We want to carry out campaigns especially on preventive measures so that people will be more enlightened on how to protect themselves from contamination of the HIV virus.

“It shall (involve) more detailed community testing so that new cases when discovered will be enrolled into care instantly. The community town hall meetings will commence this August and will bring together all the stakeholders including traditional rulers in all autonomous communities in the state.

“The rate of HIV virus infection currently in the state is quite alarming because on a quarterly basis when we validate our data ,there are always hundreds of persons who test positive. Currently we have about fifteen thousand 15000 persons living with the virus in the state.

“It is advised that anyone at high risk, maybe because of his or her job, should always go for free HIV testing every three months from pre exposure to post exposure to suppress the viral load. When one is virally suppressed he/ she can live out their God given lifespan.”