HIV/AIDS On The Increase In Kogi

The programme manager of the Kogi State Action Committee on HIV/Aids (SACA), Dr. Ibrahim Musa has attributed the sharp increase in HIV/ AIDS in the state to lack of funds by the agency to perform its duties.

Musa disclosed this yesterday in Lokoja while briefing journalists on the activities of the agency.
The programme manager noted that the state’s national prevalence rating for 2012 was 5.8%, stressing  that their activities is being hampered by  inadequate funding.
He stated that over 248,000 people were living with the disease in the state while 172 573 persons were on the drug list of the agency.
Musa lamented the inability of the agency to run an aggressive advocacy in the area of prevention, care and support and  even drug distribution by the  agency.
He stated that although the agency was basically sponsored by the world bank, with  counter part funding from the state government, the state was economical in meeting up with its  component .
“The state component comes once in 5 years, this is limiting our outreach,” he said.
He lamented that most governments were gradually shifting their focus from the impact of the scourge.
According to him, there  is a slowdown in the span of attention being given to the prevention and treatment of the HIV-AIDS, by most governments , not only in the country but in the sub-saharan region generally.
The world bank funding is not enough to ensure 70% coverage, and the government needs to re-awaken its fight against the scourge.
He disclosed that the pandemic has created negative social and economic impact on the country, adding that the recent rise in the prevalence rate is worrisome.
The program manager said the agency was working on an action plan for Kogi state for presentation to the state governor, adding that the committee members have not been able to brief the Governor in the last two years, a situation, he said was not too encouraging.
Leadership