HIV/AIDS: “Oyo Leading the Fight in the Federation”, NACA DG

The Oyo State Government, Southwest Nigeria, has been commended for its efforts in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS leading to the drop in the prevalence of the disease in the State.

The Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr. Temitope Ilori stated this during a familiarization tour of the State Ministry of Health.

Dr. Ilori commended the State Government and Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDs, for being good partners in the National Response to the eradication and elimination of HIV/AIDS.

She stated that Oyo SACA is one of the leading Agencies in the Federation, owing to its past community and media engagements, in terms of Jingles and documentaries to enlighten the people.

“I know as far back as I was the Commissioner for Health in Osun State which is over 10years now, Oyo SACA has been active. There’s always one jingle or the other and documentaries to talk about HIV/AIDS, which I often listen to then in my car. So I give kudos to you and I say keep up the good work”, she said.

The DG who acknowledged the efforts of the Oyo State Government in the domestication of the political declaration that talks about 95% of the general population getting tested to know their status vis a vis getting medication and treatment for viral suppression, said it is yielding results to meet up with the global target.

Dr. Ilori therefore solicited more partnerships with the State in reaching the people who need to be reached in the fight against HIV/AIDS, adding that the National response team is always ready to give the necessary support when needed.

She therefore urged all to come together to stem the tide of Hiv/Aids Nationally and also to ensure that the year 2030 target of making HIV/AIDS a less epidemic disease becomes a reality.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi in her response appreciated the visit of the team to the State, being the first point of call by the DG NACA in her familiarization tour.

She added that the fight against HIV/AIDS in the State calls for everyone involved to take ownership of their health so as to live a better quality life.

Dr. Ajetunmobi said part of the plans of the State in the fight against HIV/AIDS is to go on community awareness/engagement, involving religious leaders from all aspects to preach the message through their different platforms that anyone that has the disease should take responsibility of their health on their own.

She said, “If you know you have the disease and you want to get better, get people to assist you instead of waiting till they reach out to you. We don’t want the progress that we have achieved so far to go down. We want the indices of the prevalence to go further down”.

Earlier in hi address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Kehinde Ayinde stated that the State has been setting the pace in the Country regarding State Ownership Programs on HIV/AIDS and we’re ready to take over.

He added that the State has done a lot in the past year with about 1,600 delivery points in the State.

He said, “Also we have about 1004 Traditional Births Attendant points giving us support with HIV/AIDS service delivery in Oyo State”.

“Dr. Ayinde reiterated that the State did better last year at facility testing with about 129, 293 pregnant women tested and also about 29,220 people tested at the community level”.

Also present at the visit was the Chairman, Oyo SACA, Dr. Gbola Adetunji and other State functionaries.