ANSACA TARGETS ZERO NEW HIV INFECTIONS IN ANAMBRA BY 2030
By Uzo Ugwunze
The Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has inaugurated 42 coordinators under the Healthy Living HIV Control Initiative (HLHCI) across the state’s 21 Local Government Areas(LGA) to strengthen grassroots HIV awareness, prevention and response.
Speaking during the inauguration held on June 16, in Awka, the Executive Director of the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA), Dr. Nkem Okeke, said the initiative would leverage the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo platform to drive HIV sensitisation and testing at the community level.
He noted that Anambra has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the South-East and ranks fifth nationally, with a prevalence of 2.4 percent, urging residents to know their HIV status, shun stigma against people living with HIV and support efforts aimed at achieving zero new HIV infections in the state by 2030.
Dr. Okeke disclosed plans to establish a skill acquisition centre for people living with HIV, appealing for increased support from development partners and the private sector.
In her remarks, Dr. Nonye Soludo, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, charged the coordinators to remain committed to the HIV response campaign, encouraging residents to access free HIV testing, treatment and registration under the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA).
Dr. Obidike revealed that Anambra is among eight states selected for the pilot implementation of a free HIV preventive injection programme in Nigeria.
Highlights of the event included the signing of the Zero New HIV Infections by 2030 Commitment Charter, administration of the oath of confidentiality to the coordinators and goodwill messages from partners, including the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund.
Uzo Ugwunze is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
