Afric TV - News Summary...
- Udeme Asibong, asked the FG to increase funding for HIV/AIDS programmes to control the spread of the virus in the country.
- He stated that international donors, including the World Bank, were the highest financiers of HIV/AIDS prevention programmes in Nigeria.
Afric TV - Newsmail Report...
A consultant family physician, University of Calabar, Dr. Udeme Asibong, has asked the Federal Government to increase funding for HIV/AIDS programmes to control the spread of the virus in the country.
Asibong said this in a paper titled, “Overview of HIV/AIDS: What we know and what we do not know,” at a public lecture organised by De Norsemen Kclub in Uyo, on Sunday.
He stated that international donors, including the World Bank, were the highest financiers of HIV/AIDS prevention programmes in Nigeria.
He said, “Actually the highest percentage of funding comes from international donors like World Bank, USAID, and UNICEF.
“However, the Federal Government has been trying but it needs to do more because the amount in the budget is always grossly inadequate to carry out enough sensitisation, fight stigmatisation and provision of antiretroviral drugs.”
He advised Nigerians to change their behavioural pattern, noting that despite effort by government to reduce the scourge, there was an increase in the number of people living with the virus.
He revealed that in 2008 an estimated 2.98 million Nigerians were living with the virus. He added that instead of the number reducing, it had increased to 3.46 million in 2011.
Asibong stated that about 388,864 new HIV infections were recorded in 2011 as against 336, 379 recorded in 2008 in the country.
“In the absence of a curative treatment or vaccine, prevention of HIV transmission is essential in controlling the pandemic,” he said.
Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Agency for Control of AIDS, Dr. Francis Udoikpong, stated that there had been reduction of HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in AkwaIbom.
Udoikpong said the 2012 report by National Agency for the Control of AIDS showed that the state had a prevalence rate of 6.5 per cent as against 10.9 per cent in 2010.
He added that with the state government’s free antenatal care for pregnant women, the prevalence rate would drop further.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the International President of De Norsemen Kclub, Mr Tony Eteng, said the association was in Uyo to brainstorm on the scourge of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and proffer solutions on the menace.
Eteng promised that the association would continue to make positive contributions to national issues as it affects the country and humanity.
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