Bassey Otu
Cross River State Government has expressed commitment to promoting domestic resourcing of HIV interventions and the mobilization of community members for gender-equitable social norms and gender equality in the uptake of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for people living with and affected by HIV.
The governor made the pledge as Cross River State joined the rest of the world to commemorate 2023 World AIDS Day, Dec 1st, with the theme “Communities: Leadership to end AIDS by 2030”, stressing that the theme seeks to increase awareness and consciousness of leaders on the ownership and sustainability of the HIV response in order to end AIDS by 2030.
Prince Bassey Edet Otu who was represented by his Wife, Rev Eyoanwan Otu appreciated the collaboration with Implementing Partners and other stakeholders towards the significant progress made towards achieving UNAIDS 95.95.95 target of ending HIV by 2030 and promised to continue to provide support and work assiduously with partners to ensure that citizens have access to all the life-saving treatments for a “State Free of HIV”.
The World AIDS Day march started from Rabana Roundabout and culminated in the Christmas Village, where the First Lady unveiled the leisure village for all those seeking entertainment all through the 32-day nonstop festival in Calabar.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Egbe Ayuk said, to win the battle against AIDS in 2030, “we must place community leadership at the centre of HIV plans, programmes, budgets and monitoring efforts. This also means removing barriers to community leadership and ensuring space for civil society groups to take forward their vital work.
“This also means increased domestic resource mobilization to enhance community involvement and participation in HIV programming. It means removing stigma barriers and ensuring people that live with HIV are at the forefront of providing leadership for HIV programming involving prevention, care and treatment.
“AIDS is beatable and we all can support communities to end the HIV scourge in their niches around Cross River State, Nigeria and the world, he said.
On his part, interim committee Chairman, State Action Committee on AIDS, Dr Paul Odey noted that communities serve as a conduit that connects people with person-centered public health services, build trust, innovate, monitor implementation of policies and services, and hold providers accountable.
However, he highlighted some decelerating factors affecting the leadership role of the community to include: Funding shortages, policy and regulatory hurdles, capacity constraints and crackdowns on civil society and on the human rights of the marginalized communities.
According to him, “If this impediments are removed, community-led organizations can add up greater impetus to the global HIV response, advancing progress towards the end of AIDS even before the set time frame of 2030.”
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