…As 684 people living with HIV receive treatment in the state.
By Usman Usman Garba
Kano State Government, under the Ministry of Health and State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), along with HIV/AIDS partners, have observed World AIDS Day 2024 to ensure that everyone with AIDS/HIV gets access to quality healthcare services without discrimination.
This World AIDS Day 2024 is themed: “Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right”, emphasizing the importance of protecting human rights to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, as 684 people living with HIV are receiving treatment in Kano.
During the occasion, the commissioner of health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, stated that World AIDS Day was in solidarity with the 39.9 million people worldwide and 2.1 million in Nigeria as well as about 30,000 in Kano State living with HIV, and those who lost their life which were about 630,000 worldwide.
Adding that, Kano State, under the leadership of His Excellency, Engr. Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Executive Governor, is committed to ensuring that everyone gets quality health services without any form of discrimination in the state.
“Over the past twelve months, we have made significant strides in our mission to control and eventually eradicate HIV/AIDS in Kano State.
“Our efforts have focused on strengthening supply systems, improving access to HIV testing and treatment, enhancing staff capacity, and promoting awareness about HIV/AIDS.
“notable achievements over the past year we’re the enacting of Pre-Marital Screening Law & Anti Discrimination Law,” he disclosed.
Recall that Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has signed into law a comprehensive pre-marital screening law, which includes screening for HIV, Sickle Cell Genotype, Hepatitis B and other ancillary investigations in the state.
The commissioner also highlighted that the state (Kano) has this year (2024) Increased funding and allocated 3% of the total state health budget, approximately NGN 2 billion, to Kano SACA from the previous 300 million budgeted in 2023 for HIV initiatives.
“Additionally, around N124 million has been approved and released for the purchase of Rapid Test Kits (RTKs) and solar upgrade to Kano SACA office, also for the purchase of 3d Line ARVs.”
“The release of these funds will soon be made available to KSACA for implementation to enable us to reach more people affected by HIV/AIDS with quality services,” he suggested.
He also disclosed the Kano state government’s effort on infrastructural development within the health sector as well as healthcare enrollment as Kano enrolled over 600 Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and 2200 People Living with HIV (PLHIV) under our state contributory healthcare scheme to ensure they have access to healthcare services without out-of-pocket expenses.
“HIV Testing and Treatment: We have returned and revamped the free HIV testing Services (HTS) in our 592 primary healthcare facilities, all 43 of our public secondary facilities, and some selected private facilities across the state.
“So far this year, we have conducted HIV testing for 326,831 people, identifying 4,274 positives, and initiating all the 4274 new HIV-infected persons on ART. Currently. 32,684 people living with HIV are receiving treatment in the state.
“Also, for mother-to-child transmission, we have strengthened our strategies to end mother-to-child transmission by testing 94.3% of pregnant women who attended their first ANC visit.
“Only 0.07% returning HIV positive and properly managed until their delivery without transmitting the disease to their newborns and are being followed under the EID programme,” Dr. Yusuf assured.
He lastly called on everyone to join the state in the fight against AIDS/HIV, saying, “We must continue to advocate for those affected, fight against stigma and discrimination, and ensure universal access to prevention, treatment, care, and support.
“Together, we can end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030. Let’s stand in solidarity, remember those we’ve lost, and keep pushing forward until we achieve a world free of AIDS.”