By Adeniyi Adedeji, Ilorin
The Kwara State government has reiterated its commitment to relentlessly put in efforts to protect and improve the healthcare of its people, particularly in the area of HIV/AIDS.
The state Deputy Governor and the Chairman, Kwara State AIDS Control Agency, Mr Kayode Alabi, made this known during the celebration of the 2020 World AIDS Day in his office, adding that the Kwara State government had continued the sustainability of HIV intervention gains by supporting the Kwara State AIDS Control Agency, despite the emergence of COVID-19 and government’s declining financial resources.
Alabi averred that despite the setback suffered in the fight against HIV/AIDS because of COVID-19, the state, in partnership with the implementing partners, devised newer strategies and approaches at ensuring people living with HIV get the required care.
He lauded international donors’ support through the implementing partners for making the state achieve low prevalence, according to Nigeria AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey 2018 report.
Project Manager, Kwara State AIDS Control Agency, Dr Saleem Alabi, said that the state had been using the health and the non-health sectoral approach in curbing the spread of HIV in the state; adding that COVID-19 had limited the access of people living with HIV, PLHIV, to antiretroviral drugs in hospitals, especially during the lockdown.
He, however, stated that the state government and the partners, subsequently decided to provide PLHIVs with medicines that could last for months.
Present at the event were Chairman, House Committee on Health and Environment, Hon Owolabi Razak; Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Razak, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Abubakar Ayinla, implementing partners and other stakeholders.
