Kogi State is currently providing treatment to 36,006 out of an estimated 50,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, the state government announced on Monday, marking World AIDS Day 2024.
The update was disclosed by Ibrahim Anate, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Agency for the Control of AIDS (KOSACA).
In his address, Anate explained the state’s ongoing efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. “We are seriously fighting the scourge, and we are raising awareness in all the communities and hard-to-reach areas of Kogi State about HIV,” he said, highlighting the state’s commitment to both treatment and prevention.
Anate also acknowledged the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for its efforts in ensuring access to treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS, especially pregnant women.
“The state government is striving hard to ensure that people who are positive in Kogi State will turn negative,” he added, underscoring the government’s comprehensive approach to addressing the issue.
Despite these efforts, Anate noted that security challenges in some parts of the state have made it difficult for certain individuals to access treatment.
He appealed to Governor Ododo to sign the recently passed Anti-Stigma HIV law, which aims to protect individuals living with HIV from societal discrimination. “When the governor assents to this law, people who are HIV positive can have the confidence to come out and declare their status,” Anate said.
In a related statement, Inyama Lawrencia, the Kogi State Technical Lead for the Centre for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP), expressed concern about the transmission of HIV from mother to child.
She stressed the importance of antenatal care, saying, “We have been advocating for every mother to go for antenatal services so they can know their HIV status.” However, Lawrencia acknowledged the financial barriers many women face, which hinder their ability to access HIV testing.
