NACA canvasses 1% State allocation to HIV/AIDS

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7 years ago

Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Sani Aliyu, has called on state governments in the country to allocate one per cent of their monthly federal allocation to fight against HIV/AIDS.

Speaking during a courtesy call on the deputy governor of Kwara state, Elder Peter Kisira, in Ilorin, the Director-General said that such allocation would take care of gap that would be created by external donors who are leaving the country.

The NACA boss, who said that the idea had been suggested to the state governors at a meeting held in Abuja under the auspices of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, commended the state government for its budgetary provision for the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (KWASACA), calling for prompt release of such fund to enhance the job of the agency and deliver on its mandate.

The Director-General of NACA also pleaded for the release of the World Bank counterpart funding running to about N60 million.

He described as low the prevalence rate of the scourge in the state compared to other states, imploring the government to work towards further reduction.

Dr Aliyu explained that the Mother to Child transition had been effectively taken care because of the potency of the drug.

The Director-General praised the state for the introduction of the Community Health Insurance Scheme among others aimed at bringing healthcare delivery closer to the people.

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Also speaking, the deputy governor, Elder Peter Kisira, said that the government placed great emphasis on the control of AIDS in the State and had shown concern for people living with the scourge.

Elder Kisira stated that necessary machinery would be put in place to eliminate and achieve zero per in HIV/AIDS in the State.

The deputy governor described funding as a great challenge appealing to NACA to give special consideration to the State in view of its peculiar nature.