This year’s World AIDS Day today – Friday, January 3 -witnessed a turn out of women, men and youths in their numbers, all eager for testing to know their HIV status in Imo State.
This year’s edition of the World’s Aids Day came amid the grim knowledge that the dreaded sexually transmitted disease is still without a cure.
And for the more sexually active population, the prospects of escaping its infection seem even grimmer. For, while the management of the infection by the victim can be cumbersome, not to say costly, sexual abstinence as a precautionary measure against HIV/AIDS is probably not even to be contemplated.
Speaking at the event organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) at the Oguta Civic Centre in Oguta LGA Area of Imo State. Dr. Kyrian Uchegbu, the Imo State Representative, said he was happy that the people were eager to know their HIV status by taking part in the free testing provided by the NDDC.
He said that the NDDC as an interventionist agency is assisting in the development of the nine oil-producing states as well as improving the health of the communities by providing better health facilities.
“I am happy today as our people have taken the advantage of the free testing to know their HIV Status. HIV is not a death sentence and by knowing that helps you to live a more positive live,” he said.
“We are going to have another medical this 2025 like the one held in 2024 where those with different medical problems were treated, including surgeries was free of charge. NDDC is an interventionist agency to assist in the development of the nine oil producing states. We are trying to better the health of our people .NDDC will continue to provide health facilities in the oil producing communities of Oguta, Ohaji/ Egbema and Oru East because health is wealth.”
Also, Dr Kelechi Nwelu, Director Imo State office of the NDDC, said the same event is also going on in all the nine states.
“We are also running a deworming programme and we are going to do in this 2025 Medical mission. Earlier we a medical mission in Oguta for two months and we are going to do more. We are concerned about the health of our people and today is world AIDS Day, so knowing your status is important and we have the anti retroviral drugs avaliable and it is free,” he said.
The resource person, Dr Joy Duruaku who spoke on how to prevent and how to manage HIV if contracted, said that the anti retroviral drugs will supressed the virus in the carrier from beoming AIDS.
“HIV does not kill , but what kills is the mind set of the infested person. But if you postive to the virus all that is required is to take the anti retroviral drugs religiously which will supress the virus and make you live well. You also have to adopt a postive lifestyle.HIV will not stop you from getting married .When you are taking your anti retroviral drugs at a stage you uninfective because your immunity is high.”
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