OYSG Set To Eliminate AIDS In The State By 2030 – Adeduntan

By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Azeez Adeduntan has said the state government’s plan was to eliminate the AIDS epidemic in the state by 2030.
The Commissioner dropped this hint at an HIV awareness campaign to commemorate the 2016 World AIDS day celebration held at the Primary Health Care Centre, Agbongbon, Ibadan.
He declared that HIV/AIDS is still one of the greatest global public health crises facing the world, particularly in African continent, adding “the number of new HIV infections is not declining among adults, with women and youths particularly at risk of becoming infected with HIV.”
Speaking through the Director of Public Health, Dr Wole Lawal in the state, Dr Adeduntan declared that the state government is in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and developmental partners towards strengthening its HIV response system to effectively eliminate the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
The Commissioner for health emphasized that ending AIDS epidemic will require rapid acceleration of the response over the next five years and sustain action through 2030 and beyond, saying, “this can only be achieved if we all work together as a team”.
He disclosed that in line with this year’s World AIDS theme focused on prevention among adolescent girls, young women and key populations, Oyo state government was also focused on the preventive and curative aspects of HIV/AIDS management.
While tasking the people of Oyo state to get tested for HIV said “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 maintained that HIV testing and access to treatment allows people living with HIV living longer and productive lives.
In his remark, the Ibadan South East Action Committee on AIDs chairman, Mrs Jimoh Olusola cautioned against procurement of abortion but always ensure HIV-safety conscious in their relationships.