Since 2017 to date, the Ondo State Government, has recorded no fewer than 124,817 pregnant women who have been tested positive for HIV.
Ondo Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who disclosed this on Thursday at the official launch of HIV Treatment Surge in Ondo state organized by APIN Public Health Initiatives, in collaboration with CDC Nigeria, and United States Government, held in Akure, however, promised not to leave any stone unturned until Ondo state becomes HIV/AIDS-competent and ultimately HIV-free of new infections.
Akeredolu, who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Oladunni Odu said the disease was no longer a threat to our collective wellbeing and survival.
According to him, the HIV treatment surge campaign launch was another first of its kind in Ondo state by supporting a large scale HIV case finding programme in order to achieve the ambitious set target of 95:95:95 by 2030 set by United Nations as part of the Sustainable Development Goal 3 to end the AIDs epidemic.
The governor, who also disclosed that about 1,991,102 condom caplets have been distributed in the state from 2017 till date maintained that out of the infected pregnant women, 926 have accessed elimination of Mother-To-Child-Transmission of HIV services.
He said, “Our government places premium on the improved living standards of our people where they live, work and play. It is our avowed determination to put a stop to all forms of preventable morbidity and mortality.
“The HIV pandemic requires us to open our eyes and not dismiss HIV infection as someone else issues. It requires us to open our arms to people living with HIV and give them our solidarity and support.
“I call on all international partners, Civil Society Organizations, NGOs, religious bodies and others stakeholders to continue to join hands with government in order to achieve the ultimate goal.
“As a people-oriented government, we shall continue to provide the enabling social and policy environment to facilitate HIV/AIDS intervention programmes.”
Claire Pierangelo, the United States Consul-General in Nigeria, in her remarks said the programme is helping to identify people living with HIV and place those newly identified on free life-saving treatment and also helping to retain those already receiving treatment. Both efforts are needed for better treatment outcomes and improved quality of life for those affected.
Pierangelo, therefore, urged the Ondo state government to eliminate all user fees charged by healthcare facilities for nonessential services or those already provided by
PEPF AR, which is a barrier for people living with HIV who want to access PEPF AR supported HIV services.
According to her, by eliminating such user fees, the Government
would increase demand and ensure more efficient utilization of services provided by PEPFAR, which would lead to our mutual goal of HIV epidemic control in Ondo
State.
The US Government representative also implored the Government to support the state HIV programme with additional test kits to supplement the United States’ procurement of over 77,000 test kits for Ondo State saying providing the kits would help the state to maintain its ART coverage and ensure the State Government’s sustainability of managing the programme.
Prosper Okonkwo, the CEO, APIN Public Health Initiatives, in his vote of thanks, however, said the need to quell the substantial fear attributed to the word HIV and the long-standing myth that HIV is a disease that does not respond to treatment also requires strong and effective collaboration of all stakeholders in the state.
This is false!
Ondo State has 12,607 PLHIVs active on treatment as at 31st March, 2021.
Among these 12,607 are children, adolescents, adults and pregnant & breast feeding women.