By Lola Idahosa, Kaduna
Two civil society organizations, the civil society on HIV and AIDS in Nigeria and the Network of people living with HIV and AIDs in Nigeria have criticized the state government for not doing enough for those living with HIV/AIDS in the state.
The groups said no fewer than 600,000 persons representing 9.2 percent of the population are living with the HIV virus in the state.That makes the state second to Port Harcourt(Rivers State).This figure has however been disputed by an official in the state’s AIDS Control Agency in a chat with Newsdiaryonline.
The organizations said the state government, in spite of the high figure, seemed not to be committed to tackling the disease, thereby abandoning patients and children orphaned by HIV and AIDS.
Addressing journalists, the groups regretted that the coordination, care and support for persons living with HIV and AIDS in the state had been relegated to the background.
Emmanuel Bonet, who spoke on behalf of the civil society on HIV and AIDS in Nigeria said while the world tried to put its acts together in closing the gap on HIV prevention and treatment, the situation remained bleak for Kaduna as things have been deteriorating.
Bonet noted that even with the presence of additional development partners bringing in resources to support government efforts, the apex body saddled with the responsibility for the coordination of the HIV intervention in the state had not lived up to expectation.
He therefore urged the state government to increase funding of HIV and AIDS activities, beginning with the release of funds under the presidential comprehensive response plan, which he said was already contained in the 2014 budget as well as to ensure that evidence, competence and professionalism take priority over politics and religious sentiments.
Bonet also said that the government should as a matter of urgency “approve the last phase of the World bank grant to enable civil society organizations implement evidence- based projects across the 23 local government areas of the state.
“Ensure that the Ministry Of Women Affairs takes up its responsibility and assumes the driver’s seat on issues of orphans and other vulnerable children and women in Kaduna state,”he said.
In his contribution, Benjamin D. Angboson one of the leaders of the network of people living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria said with the current population of 600,000 persons living with the virus, the state ought to be seen fighting against the scourge with all sincerity.
He added that the current national reports ranked Kaduna second to River state with 9.2 percent HIV prevalence rate.
According to him, 600,000 persons living with HIV in the state is second to River state, Benue used to be second but the current statistics shows that Kaduna state has 9.2 percent HIV prevalence rate.
“The state needs to take proactive measures so that the state do not record high rate of orphans and widows”, he said
Responding to the high rate of HIV and AIDS in the state, the Executive Secretary Kaduna State AIDS Control Agency (KADSACA) Dr.Halliru Musa Abubakar denied the figure claimed by the civil society.
He told Newsdiaryonline that only 100,000 person in Kaduna are infected with the HIV and AIDS virus adding that the state government is doing his best to eradicate HIV and AIDS from Kaduna state.
On his relationship with the civil society, the Executive Secretary said that KADSACA relates very well with them, adding that “it is very cordial”.
