THE
Benue State government has disclosed that over one million out of the 4.5
million population in the state have been infected with the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Benue State government has disclosed that over one million out of the 4.5
million population in the state have been infected with the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
This
was made known at the training of media professional on HIV/AIDS held at the
Conference Hall, Ministry of Information, Markurdi, Benue State, on Thursday.
was made known at the training of media professional on HIV/AIDS held at the
Conference Hall, Ministry of Information, Markurdi, Benue State, on Thursday.
The
Executive Secretary, Benue State Action on Control of AIDS (BESACA), Mrs. Grace
Wende, in a paper entitled “Basic facts on HIV/AIDS,” said that about 400,000
children living with the virus have been placed on antiretroviral drugs (ARV),
adding that 708,640 adults are living with the disease.
Executive Secretary, Benue State Action on Control of AIDS (BESACA), Mrs. Grace
Wende, in a paper entitled “Basic facts on HIV/AIDS,” said that about 400,000
children living with the virus have been placed on antiretroviral drugs (ARV),
adding that 708,640 adults are living with the disease.
Based
on the statistics, about two out of five people in the state are carriers of
the disease, with women having it more than men.
on the statistics, about two out of five people in the state are carriers of
the disease, with women having it more than men.
According
to Mrs. Wende, the children carriers of the disease, who have the highest
infection rate, were born with the disease. These children, according to her,
got the disease from mothers who failed to go for ante-natal care at
government-owned hospitals where their status could have been detected earlier.
to Mrs. Wende, the children carriers of the disease, who have the highest
infection rate, were born with the disease. These children, according to her,
got the disease from mothers who failed to go for ante-natal care at
government-owned hospitals where their status could have been detected earlier.
“In
Benue State, the number of adults infected with HIV/AIDS was 708,640, out of
which 21,259 were new infections in 2011. In the same year, 17,139 women were
found positive. The number of children requiring ARV was 398,888,” she said.
Benue State, the number of adults infected with HIV/AIDS was 708,640, out of
which 21,259 were new infections in 2011. In the same year, 17,139 women were
found positive. The number of children requiring ARV was 398,888,” she said.
Mrs
Wende cited the attitude of the people of the state to unprotected sex and the
rising number of youths becoming homosexuals as factors responsible for the
rise in the scourge.
Wende cited the attitude of the people of the state to unprotected sex and the
rising number of youths becoming homosexuals as factors responsible for the
rise in the scourge.
Speaking
further, Mrs. Wende noted that many men who flock around ladies and engage in
unprotected sex also transmit the virus to their unsuspecting wives.
further, Mrs. Wende noted that many men who flock around ladies and engage in
unprotected sex also transmit the virus to their unsuspecting wives.
At the
moment, according to her, the state has 40 treatment centres where the free
antiretroviral drugs are provided to those living with the virus, adding that
the state has enough drugs in stock till 2015.
moment, according to her, the state has 40 treatment centres where the free
antiretroviral drugs are provided to those living with the virus, adding that
the state has enough drugs in stock till 2015.
The
Commissioner for Information, Mr. Comrad Wegba, regretted that despite the huge
amount of funds the state had committed into the fight against the scourge, the
disease was still spreading.
Commissioner for Information, Mr. Comrad Wegba, regretted that despite the huge
amount of funds the state had committed into the fight against the scourge, the
disease was still spreading.
He
blamed the practise of unprotected sex and the deliberate spreading of the
disease by carriers as the major sources of the spread of the disease in the
state.
blamed the practise of unprotected sex and the deliberate spreading of the
disease by carriers as the major sources of the spread of the disease in the
state.
“The
former governor of the state, Chief George Akume, visited Angola to see the
havoc the disease wreaked on the land and ways to reduce the scourge.
Unfortunately, while the prevalence of the disease has reduced in other parts
of the country, Benue is getting worse by the day and this is as a result of
our attitude to unprotected sex as well as deliberate move by the carriers to
spread the disease,” Wegba said.
former governor of the state, Chief George Akume, visited Angola to see the
havoc the disease wreaked on the land and ways to reduce the scourge.
Unfortunately, while the prevalence of the disease has reduced in other parts
of the country, Benue is getting worse by the day and this is as a result of
our attitude to unprotected sex as well as deliberate move by the carriers to
spread the disease,” Wegba said.
Together
with Mrs. Wende, the commissioner called for behavioural change among the
people, urging them to stick to a partner and use condom.
with Mrs. Wende, the commissioner called for behavioural change among the
people, urging them to stick to a partner and use condom.
Source: Tribune
