Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has disclosed that about 124,817 pregnant women have tested positive for HIV between 2017 till date in the state.
The disclosure was made at the launch of HIV Treatment Surge campaign in the state organized by APIN Public Health Initiatives in collaboration with CDC Nigeria and United States government.
The Governor was represented at the event by Mrs Oladunni Odu, who is the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
According to the Governor, the launch of the HIV treatment surge campaign was another first of its kind in the state. He expressed the willingness of his administration to rid the state of HIV/AIDS. Out of the infected pregnant women, 926 have accessed elimination of Mother-To-Child-Transmission of the disease.
“Our government places premium on improved living standard of our people, where they live, work and play. It is our avowed determination to put a stop to all forms of preventable morbidity and mortality.
“The HIV pandemic requires us to open our eyes and not dismiss HIV infection as someone else issue. It requires us to open our arms to people living with HIV and give them our solidarity and support. I call on all international partners, Civil Society Organizations, religious bodies and other stakeholders to continue to join hands with government in order to achieve the ultimate goal.
“As a people-oriented government, we shall continue to provide the enabling social and policy environment to facilitate HIV/AIDS intervention programmes,” he added.
Claire Pierangelo, the U.S Consul General in Nigeria, urged the Ondo State government to eliminate all fees charged by healthcare facilities for nonessential services. He further said the programme is helping to identify people living with HIV and place those identified on free life-saving treatment.
