Danger: 1, 800, 000 Nigerians Are HIV Positive But Don’t Know, Says Prof. Idoko

Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Professor John Idoko, has said that about 3.2 million Nigerians are living with the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) out of which about 40 per cent of that number (1,280,000) is not aware of their status.
Idoko who spoke at the flag-off of the 2014 NACA/MDG medical outreach and HIV counselling and testing in Kafanchan, Kaduna State advised Nigerians to go to hospital and know their HIV status.
Idoko, who was represented by the acting Director of Programmes Co-ordination Department at NACA, Dr. Priscilla Ibekwe, said: “NACA is working to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in Nigeria to give opportunity to people to know their status, because it is better for people to know their status. When they know their status and find out they are negative, they will do everything to remain negative.”
Also speaking at the flag-off, Kaduna State Governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, urged the people of the state to take the issue of HIV/AIDS seriously.
“The 9.2 per cent prevalence rate of HIV in the state is currently the highest in the North West zone and it has therefore become imperative for all to intensify efforts to reverse this unacceptable prevalence rate through massive scale up of HIV counselling and testing for the general population.”
Governor Yero, who was represented by his deputy, Nuhu Audu Bajoga, gave assurance of the state’s continued commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
He said this has been done consistently through the funding of KADSACA to enable the body carry out its functions effectively.
“This campaign is timely as it is intended to enable us face the issue of HIV/AIDS in Kaduna State. Let me assure you of our government’s continued commitment to give maximum support to fight HIV/AIDS scourge in the state,” he said.
According to him, the state has received funding support from the World Bank and other development partners like UNICEF, ICAP, DFID, UNDP AIDS Relief, USAID and PATHS 1 and 2 among others to fight the scourge. [myad]