No fewer than 94,141 pregnant women are said to be HIV/AIDS positive in Zamfara.
A
United States Agency for International Aids (USAID) funded programme
said this through Management Services for Health Organisation the USAID
Prevention and Organisational Systems-AIDS Care and Treatment (PRO-ACT).
The
team leader of the organisation, Mr Aminu Sarki, spoke at the end of a
seven-year treatment and support rolling plan for those living with HIV
in the state in Gusau on Thursday.
Sarki said more than 500 women living with HIV received anti-retroviral drugs in the state during the period.
He said 4,436 persons living with HIV in the state were cared for by his organisation.
He
explained that the project was aimed at strengthening the capacity of
the country’s public, private and community sectors for sustainable
HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevention, control, care and treatment within
the health system.
He
said his organisation had succeeded in providing services at four
comprehensive care and treatment sites as well as trained health
personnel in 19 Management Sciences for Health (MSH) supported
facilities in injection, safety and waste management.
He said as
the project was winding up in the state by November, there was need for
the state government to takeover and continue in order to eliminate HIV
in the state.
While applauding the services rendered by the
organisation in the state, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG),
Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi, assured that the state government would soon
study and takeover in order to sustain the programme.
The News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was conducted in the
five states of Niger, Kwara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the programme participants.
