Over 200,000 infected with HIV/AIDS in Borno

Following a health report that over 200,000
people in Borno State are infected with the
Human Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (HIV),
Acquired Immuno-deficiency Virus (AIDS),
the Borno State government is to partner
with the World Bank and other international
health agencies on reducing the prevalence
of HIV/AIDS in the state.
According to the state governor, Kashim
Shettima, only 50 per cent of the carriers in
the state had access to antiretroviral drugs
and treatment centres.
Shettima spoke on Wednesday in Maiduguri,
while distributing antiretroviral drugs and
HIV testing kits to the Ministry of Health at
the Borno Medical Store on Baga Road.
He said the rising rate of the prevalence of
the HIV/AIDS in the state was causing a lot
of concern, as well as the rate at which it
was being spread among the various
groups of people.
He noted that the scourge was not
respective of gender or status in claiming
lives and that included children below the
age of five.
On the HIV/AIDS current rate of prevalence,
the Commissioner for Health, Dr Salamatu
Anas-Kolo, said in 2008 that the rate was 4.8
per cent but rose to 5.4 in 2010, stating that
the increase was, however, higher and
above the national average prevalence rate
of less than four per cent.
She said because of the rising prevalence
rate, the total number of HIV/AIDS carriers in
Borno State had risen to 222,000, stating
that out of this, only 50 per cent or 111,000,
had access to antiretroviral drugs, treatment
and counselling.
According to Dr Salamatu, the none payment
of counterpart funding on the control and
treatment of HIV/AIDS by the immediate-past
administration of Senator Ali Sheriff, had led
to a rapid spread of the virus among the
people.
via Tribune

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