Our plan is to eliminate AIDS in Oyo By 2030 —Oyo health commissioner

OYO State government had said its plan was to eliminate the AIDS epidemic in the state by 2030.

Dr Azeez Adeduntan, Oyo State Commissioner for health, said this at an HIV awareness campaign for artisans to commemorate the 2016 World AIDS day celebration at Primary Health Care Centre, Agbongbon, Ibadan-South East Local government area. It was in collaboration with APIN Public Health Initiatives.

Adeduntan, who spoke through Director of Public Health, Dr Wole Lawal stated that Oyo State government in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and developmental partners was strengthening the state’s HIV response system to effectively eliminate the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

According to him, the health sector response to HIV was also critical to the achievement of universal health coverage, one of the key health targets of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

He declared that ending the AIDS epidemic will require rapid acceleration of the response over the next five years and then sustain action through 2030 and beyond.

“This can only be achieved if we all work together as a team,” he declared.

The Health Commissioner acknowledged that HIV/AIDS is still one of the greatest global public health crises facing the world, particularly in African continent

According to him, “the number of new HIV infections is not declining among adults, with women and youths particularly at risk of becoming infected with HIV.”

Adeduntan, however, stated that in line with this year’s World AIDS theme,  which focuses on prevention among adolescents girls, young women and key populations, the state government was also focused on the preventive and curative aspects of HIV/AIDS management.

“Presently, diagnosis and treatment for HIV and AIDS is available in some government health facilities across the state. Pregnant women are also given top priority as they are tested during antenatal care and those confirmed as having the disease are treated in order to ensure that their children are HIV free,” he declared

Adeduntan also urged people to get tested for HIV, noting that HIV testing and access to treatment allows people living with HIV living longer and productive lives.

APIN’s representative, Mrs Bola Thomson, stating that good health of the people was the priority of the Non-governmental organisation, assured that HIV was not a death sentence, stressing that there were worse diseases than HIV such as diabetes and hypertension.

Ibadan South East Action Committee on AIDs chairman, Mrs Jimoh Olusola warned that procurement of abortion was becoming a common means by which people contact the virus.

She urged people to always ensure they are HIV-safety conscious in their relationships and other day to day activities.