About 486,000 people have been tested for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) from January to date in Gombe State, Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, has revealed
HIV is responsible for the affliction of the Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Dahiru disclosed this in Gombe on Wednesday at a press briefing as part of activities to mark the World AIDS Day with the theme “Equalize.”
December 1every year is marked as the World’s AIDS day to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.
The commissioner said, of the state’s 486,000 who have been tested for HIV, 186,000 are pregnant women who have been tested within the last 11 months.
He said the state government was collaborating with partners to be conducting free testing and treatment to combat the disease and sustain successes recorded in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
He said Gov. Inuwa Yahaya has given priority to the health sector, including HIV responses, by allocating additional funds, particularly to purchase HIV testing kits, drugs for the treatment of opportunistic infections and laboratory reagents.
“This has resulted to doubling the domestic HIV funding since the Yahaya-led administration assumed office in 2019.
“HIV testing is the first step in receiving treatment. When a person with HIV is diagnosed early, they start treatment right away; and if they stick to it, they will achieve viral suppression, making them less likely to transmit the virus.
“This will make a significant contribution to our state’s aim of eliminating AIDS by 2030. An estimated 43, 000 people are living with HIV in the state,’’ he said.
Dahiru further said that in spite of the giant strides recorded in the fight against the disease, there were still gaps that should be closed in order to reach the last mile.
“We noticed that the rate of new infections in the state is particularly high among young individuals between 15 and 24 years, with girls being particularly vulnerable.
“Women as a whole, remain disproportionately affected by HIV. The rate of mother-to-child transmission in the state is still unacceptably high,” he said.
