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Ebonyi Gov's Wife Mobilizes Support For AIDS Free Generation 

- Joyce Onuora, Abakaliki

The Wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru has reaffirmed her commitment to the well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS, calling on community leaders to join hands with the State Government to promote policies geared towards the victims’ total healthiness. 

Mrs Nwifuru made the statement in Abakaliki on Friday December 1, 2023, while speaking at this year's celebration to commemorate the World AIDS Day which has the theme "Communities Leadership to End AIDS by 2030." Shen noted that communities are at the fore front of the response to HIV/AIDS, and that their involvement is key in achieving sustainable progress.

The First Lady said, her foundation, Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced (BERWO), will join forces with relevant stakeholders to achieve an HIV /AIDS free generation by 2030.

"I want to plead with our community leaders in Ebonyi State to join hands with the State Ministry of Health and BERWO foundation in raising robust awareness, promoting preventive measures, providing support and care for those living with HIV/AIDS, and combating stigma and discrimination in other to archive the UNAIDs 95-95-95 goal by the year 2030."she added

The Commissioner for Health, Mr Moses Ekuma, in his opening remarks encouraged the general public to abstain from lifestyles that can worsen the spread of AIDS. 

Ekuma advised victims of the dreaded disease to adhere strictly to their medication and go about their normal life.

"Let all hands be on deck, as we gathered, stakeholders, community leaders to fight HIV to ensure that the target of ending it by 2030 is achieved.

"We should start by knowing our HIV status,"Ekuma advised.

Mr Chibueze Iteshi, Programme Manager, Ebonyi State Agency for the Control of AIDS (EBOSACA) maintained that the agency has rolled out plan through other partners to conduct test exercises for people.

Iteshi, said over 14,000 victims in the state are taking their Antiretrovirals HIV and AIDS Drugs. 

He advised that while the drugs are taken, tendency of transmitting the virus to another will be very low.

In their sperate speeches, representative of the World Health Organisation, USAID-Integrated Health Programme, called for tne support of communities in leading the responds in HIV.

Meanwhile, Mrs Chinyere Okorie, Coordinator, Association of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS, commended the government and partners for the unique event and called for more support in provision of the retroviral drugs. END