The Kogi State Program manager for the Center for Integrated Health Program (CIHP), Doctor Usman Zakari has called for more public awareness against HIV and the stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS in Kogi state.
Doctor Usman made the call during a road walk as part of activities to commemorate the World AIDS Day in Lokoja, Kogi State.
He noted that the theme for the year "Hands up for HIV prevention" was to call for attitudinal change toward the disease and to stop discrimination against people living with the disease.
He revealed that although Nigeria has the highest burden of HIV/AIDS in the world, the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in Kogi State had dropped from 5.8% to 1.4% in the last few years. Adding that the global community is working dilligently to ensure that the world target to achieve a HIV/AIDS free generation by the year 2030 is realised.
Doctor Usman also revealed that since 2004, over 34 billion dollars had been injected into the world fight against HIV/AIDS through the United States Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
"As we commemorate the World AIDS Day, we stand in solidarity with 78million people who have been infected with HIV and remember the 35 million who have died from AIDS. I enjoin the Government of Kogi State and stakeholders to galvanise efforts towards ensuring that the disease is eradicated". He said.
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