50 contact HIV daily in Oyo state – Sani Aliyu
By Olaide Osayemi
Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Dr. Sani Aliyu has raised an alarm that no fewer than 50 people contract HIV daily in Oyo State.
Aliyu gave the figure in Ibadan, the state capital while speaking during a courtesy call on Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the executive council chamber of the governor’s office.
He noted that about 200,000 people are living with the virus in the state.
Aliyu however revealed that only 16,000 out of the estimated 200,000 persons living with HIV in the state were undergoing treatment.
He said “We have a gap between the number of infected persons and those on treatment. We have a gap between infected pregnant women and those receiving treatment.
“We also have issues with the number of new infections recorded,’’ he said.
He revealed that out of the 200,000 HIV carriers, 10,000 are pregnant women.
The DG commended the state government for running one of the best programmes on HIV/AIDS.
He disclosed that there were 1,060,000 people living with HIV in Nigeria, out of which only five per cent were currently on treatment courtesy of the Nigerian government.
Speaking on behalf of the governor, the Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo assured the NACA DG of his administration’s readiness to partner with relevant agencies to bring the figure to the barest minimum.
Ajimobi informed that his administration will continue to support donor agencies with funds and human resources towards eradication of the disease.
