PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AKWA IBOM STATE ON THE PURPORTED HIV ENDEMIC IN AKWA IBOM STATE
Protocols:
The Nigeria Aids Indicator and Impact survey (NAIIS), was carried out throughout the country in the third and fourth quarter of 2018,the findings were unveiled by His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, President Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 14th of March 2019 at the Presidential villa Abuja
.
It is no longer news that the findings revealed that Akwa Ibom state has a HIV prevalence of 5.5% against the National prevalence of 1.4% for the age group 15 to 64years. The value for Akwa Ibom is reported to be the highest in the country. I wish to recall that in 2017 the state government in conjunction with FHI 360 and other partners, with funding from USAID, carried out a cross sectional population based survey, Akwa Ibom AIDS Indicator Survey (AKAIS 2017), similar to NAIIS in methodology onthe prevalence and incidence of HIV in the state. The result as disseminated in November 2017 showed a prevalence of 4.8% for the age group 15 to 69 years. Statistically this two results 5.5%, (2018) and 4.8%, (2017) for NAIIS and AKAIS respectively are within the same 95% confidence interval ranging from 4.7 to 6.3 percent.Therefore the results scienti"cally similar despite the little change in figures, The slight difference between the NAIIS and AKAIS prevalence can be attributed to the sample population size, about 16,000 in AKAIS 2017 and about 8000 in NAIIS 2018, making AKAIS sample size twice the size in NAIIS, making AKAIS result more precise.
However, the fact remains that the HIV prevalence in the state is on the decline just as shown below.
The last nationally accepted HIV survey, prior to the NAIIS survey in 2018 was the ANC SENTINEL study in 2014 and the National prevalence was 3% while Akwa Ibom state prevalence was 10.8%. Arguably as it is being reported that the national prevalence has dropped from 3% (2014) to 1.4% (2018), similarly that of Akwa Ibom State has dropped from 10.8% (2014) to 5.5% (2018). The location of the state with a large coastal front of 129 Km stretching from Ikot Abasi to Oron, an airport, good road net work peaceful atmosphere, friendly disposition of our people, good cuisines and fast developing economy have made our state the destination of choice for both national and international visitors. All these are not without attendant public health consequences, like1
transmission of communicable diseases which HIV/AIDS cannot be excluded.
However the state government under the able leadership of His Excellency, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the governor of Akwa Ibom State is not only committed to providing infrastructure and industries to its citizens but its also committed to the health and wellbeing of its people. To this end huge resources have been committed towards improving the health care delivery system of the state. The current HIV/AIDS situation in the state calls for a more robust multi-sectoral response towards curbing the epidemic in the state. Consequently the state government will step up collaboration through Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDS (AKSACA)and Akwa Ibom State HIV /AIDS and STI Control Progamme (SASCP) with Implementing Partners, Faith Based Organizations, People Living with HIV / AIDs, (PLHIV) and other stakeholders towards proffering immediate and long term interventions for the state. The immediate measures will be as follows:
1. Increasing access to HIV testing services, by providing enough rapid test kits whereby all primary health centers and secondary health facilities in the state will be able to provide free HIV testing services to its citizens.
2. Increasing access to treatment by creating 3 new comprehensive treatment centres, 1 per senatorial district to be fully supported by the state government these will compliment other comprehensive treatment centres supported by international partners.
3. The State Primary Health Care Development Board, inaugurated by the Executive Governor recently is working had to kick start its activities, which includes management of our primary health centres, this will impact positively on the service delivery in these health facilities.
4. Embarking on state wide community outreaches and enlightenment campaigns to create demand for the uptake of HIV services. I therefore appeal to the media to be partners in this project by incorporating jingles, news promo and talk
shows and media chats on HIV at no cost, to support the fight against the transmission of the virus.
5. Strategizing for effective intervention among drivers of new infections namely young adults females and members of the key population, by designing interventions that are gender and youth friendly. This is in line with the new national strategic frame work 2019- 2023. The Long term measures will include:
1. We will lead advocacy to the local government councils in the state to lend regular and dedicated support for HIV intervention and other health programs in their respective Local Government Areas.
2. We will also lead advocacy to the legislative arm of government to put in place laws to protect people living with HIV and to curb transmission of new infections, by expeditiously deliberating and passing the bill on Anti Stigma and Discrimination against people living with HIV and Aids. Secondly initiate the process of developing a bill to prosecute persons found to willfully infect or transmit the virus to other people. In conclusion I wish to appreciate the Federal Ministry of Health, National agency for the control of Aids (NACA), USAIDS and Global fund and others who have contributed to a successful conduct of the survey. We also extend our gratitude to our implementing partners for their continuous support towards reducing the scourge of HIV in the state.
The State government will continue to create an enabling environment for existing partners and will gladly welcome new partners. Finally we all know that HIV is transmitted mainly by unprotected sexual contact with infected persons hence, Akwa Ibomites should imbibe the simple ABCs of HIV prevention, namely:
1. Abstinence
2. Being faithful to one's Partner
3. Correct and Consistence Condom Use
4. Refraining from the use of illicit Drugs, which could be injectable or otherwise.
I therefore urge all Akwa Ibomites to stand up and fight to stop the transmission of HIV virus, we all have a part to play no matter how little.
Thank you very much, long live Akwa Ibom State.
Dr Dominic I Ukpong.
Hon Commissioner for Health
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