Tag:

HIV/AIDS

FG Approves N4.8bn for HIV Treatment Following U.S. Aid Suspension

by Folarin Kehinde February 3, 2025

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a N4.8 billion funding package to sustain HIV treatment programs across Nigeria.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Ali Pate made the announcement on Monday, following an FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The approved funds will cover the procurement of 150,000 treatment packs for HIV patients over the next four months. This move, according to Pate, reflects the government’s commitment to safeguarding the health of vulnerable populations, despite the challenges posed by shifting international support.

“The Presidential Treatment Programme for HIV patients has been approved, with a total of N4.8 billion allocated for the procurement of 150,000 treatment packs over four months.

“This is an important signal that the federal government is committed to ensuring that life-saving treatments remain accessible, despite the changing dynamics in external support,” Pate stated.

The minister acknowledged the contributions made by the U.S. over the past two decades but stressed that Nigeria is preparing to reduce its reliance on foreign aid.

“While we greatly appreciate the contributions of the U.S. government over the last 20 years and look forward to continued collaboration, Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu is focused on transforming the health sector through national systems and domestic financing.

“Our goal is to ensure that no patient currently receiving treatment is left without care,” he said.

Mr Pate also announced the establishment of a committee tasked with developing a transition and sustainability plan for the continuity of critical health programs. The committee will include representatives from various ministries and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

February 3, 2025 0 comments

Health

Over 50,000 Kogi residents HIV/AIDS positive – official

by Folarin Kehinde December 3, 2024

written by Folarin Kehinde

The Acting Executive Secretary, Kogi State Agency for the Control of Aids, Ibrahim Anate, has declared that no fewer than 50,000 people are currently living with HIV/AIDs in the state.

Anate disclosed this in an interactive session with journalists during a road Walk in commemoration of the 2024 World AIDS Day in Lokoja, the state capital, on Monday.

The walk was organised by the Centre for Integrated Health Programmes, in collaboration with the Kogi State Agency for the Control of Aids.

In his remarks, Anate said, “About 50,000 people are living with HIV presently out of which 36,066 are presently on treatment in Kogi State.

“We are seriously fighting the scourge and we are giving the awareness to all the community and the hard-to-reach areas of the awareness of HIV in Kogi State.”

He added that the state government, under Alhaji Usman Ododo, is striving to see that people who are living with HIV AIDs are on treatment and pregnant women who are HIV positive deliver negative babies.

“The current administration is also striving to ensure that people who are positive in Kogi State will turn to negative. The government is seriously working hard by providing support to the Ministry of Health, and KOSACA to see that we take the campaign to the very hard-to-reach community and the community at large in Kogi State,” he added.

He explained that with the current security challenges in some parts of the state, some HIV patients find it difficult to access treatment.

Anate, however, appealed to Ododo to sign the Anti Stigma HIV Law, which was recently passed by the state House of Assembly.

“When the governor ascents to this law, people that are HIV positive can have the confidence to come out and declare their status. Many can’t do this because of the stigmatization in the society”, he added.

December 3, 2024 0 comments

Headlines

Abuja’s Utako Village: Where Prostitutes deliberately infect ‘Customers’ with HIV/AIDS

by Folarin Kehinde September 11, 2021

written by Folarin Kehinde

Prostitution which was once an immoral act to engage in has now become one of the fastest growing business in major cities without leaving the shanties aside.

The ever growing rate of unemployment and harsh economic situation has contributed to the ‘booming’ business as a major means of livelihood for perpetrators.

The business has transcended beyond the illiterates, school drop-out but graduates now fully engage in this act owing to rate of unemployment and pressure to meet up familys’ ever increasing demand.

Of greater worry is the huge number of young teenagers from 16-upward engaging in this act to be paid as little as #500 for short time and #2000 for full time.

Sadly, many of the parents of this girls believes that their daughters are engaged in legitimate business in the city center and even encourage them to be more hardworking and pray for them owing to the money and goddies sent home on daily basis.

Kutako, fondly called Utako a centre of attraction in the Federal Capital Territory because of its proximity to anywhere in the capital city is always abuzz with commercial activities both day and night.

And as such, it is not so surprising that while many hustling residents engage in legitimate business, the village (utako) houses one of the cheapest hub forcommercial sex workers in the FCT.

The village is also known as hideouts for drug peddlers, criminals and smokers who consume and sell drugs to customers, the high and mighty secretly patronize them too.

The FCTA recently demolished over 1000 shanties but the rate at which prostitutes has returned is quite alarming.

In what seems like a nightmare, the prostitutes deliberately infect their “Customers” with HIV/AIDS, one of the prostitutes was caught verbally saying this.

As they (Prostitutes) are commonly known as best friends of benefits and worse enemy, over the week a hot argument ensued between them and led to a street bloody fight in broad day light.

One of the prostitutes, out of annoyance threatened to arrest her colleague whom she fought with with claim that her friend infects men with HIV/AIDS.

In her words ” So you think you can fight abi, see how you use your fingers to disfigure my face, don’t worry, I will deal with you”.

“I am going to report you to the police for infecting men with HIV/AIDS, you have been sharing it for a long time, I just pity men that come here, they don’t know anything!

September 11, 2021 0 comments