By Umar Akilu Majeri,Dutse
JIGAWA State HIV/AID control Agency (JISACA) had spends over N1.4
billion this year (2013) on antiveral drugs for 4000 registered people
leaving with HIV/AIDs in the state.
This was disclosed by the executive secretary state AIDs Control
Agency (JISACA) yesterday while speaking to news men in Dutse capital
city of the state capital during an enlightenment rally against
HIV/AID to mark world HIV/AID day in the state.
Dr. Bashir Ahmed “each of victim consumed over N36, 000 every month
and they were 4, 000 in number, it is a simple maths that
N36,000 by 4,000 by 12 you will see the total amount”.
The executive secretary disclosed further that the agency is requiring
the sum of over N235 million annually for the provision of HIV/AID
test kids in the state.
Dr. Bashir Ahmed described lack of funds as a major challenge
of the agency in the state, as many more victims were
registering with the agency through their association as a result of
mass enlightenment campaign against the spread and victimisation
against people leaving with HIV/AIDs in the state.
The executive secretary explained that his agency is in need of over
N235 million to provide enough testing kids to 14 designated health
centres in the state every year.
According to him “as you know the screening (test to know the status)
is the first stage of the control, because after one knows his/her
status which is through test than to know the next line of action, so
it is very important to focuss more on it and made it to cover every
knock and canaries of the state”.
He noted that the case is on reducing in the state, “we are now the
second list state with the people leaving with HIV/AIDs in the
federation, this followed the support and corporation receiving from
the state government, non governmental organisation and general
public”.
Dr. Ahmed state further that “the agency also prioritise public
enlightenment campaign against the spread of the disease and
victimising and isolating the people leaving with HIV/AIDs in the
communities”
He said presently there is only 4000 people leaving with HIV/AID
registered in the state, “every year we testing over 40, 000 people
and people found positive are very negligible due to mass campaign
against the spread of the disease which is widely mobilise through all
stakeholder such as religious, traditional leaders and self helf
organisations in addition to health centres mobilisation”.
He expressed satisfactions of the support and assistance from the
state government, National HIV/AIDs Control Agency (NACA), volunteers
and NGOs pertaining the agency.
