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Tag: HIV

  • Market women,men get free HIV testing

    Thousands of market women and men have accessed free HIV testing in the ongoing HIV market intervention programme in Lagos State.

    The programme was  organised by the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA).

    The market intervention, according to the CEO of LSACA, Dr. Oluseyi Temowo, was a follow-up on the activities to mark the year 2017 World AIDS Day event. Market women and men most times work from morning till night at the expense of their health, he said. The intervention, according to him, would afford them the opportunity to know their HIV status, document their knowledge, attitude and perception on HIV /AIDS, get counseled on risky behaviour that promotes HIV transmission and would help the agency to elicit comprehensive data for the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency in programming for HIV/AIDS among the group in the state.

    Dr. Temowo maintained that aligning with the global trend of ‘Getting to Zero in HIV intervention to eliminate New Infections, Discrimination and AIDS related deaths ‘ and the United Nations 90-90-90 initiative  which is aimed at eradicating the scourge by 2020 through scaling up implementation can go a long way in the achievement of the global initiative among the target group for Lagos State.

    This can be achieved  using the initiative of 90percent of the people living with HIV knowing  their status ,90 percent of the people who their status accessing Anti-retroviral treatment while 90 percent on Anti-retroviral treatment have suppressed viral loads and be able to eradicate the scourge by 2030 in Lagos State .

    In one of the intervention programmes at Mile 12 market,909  market women and men were counseled, tested and received results immediately. At Agbado-Oke -Odo market in Alimosho Local Government  Area, it was 421, Aiyetoro market, Epe- 540, Sabo market, Ikorodu—368 among others. Those found to be positive were referred appropriately, he stated.

    Dr. Temowo maintained that market women and men are very effective in information dissemination through interpersonal communication  and  to get them informed about HIV/AIDS will go a long way in reaching out to the grassroots for early detection and treatment.

    Meanwhile, LSACA has donated groceries to people living with HIV/AIDS, and promised them a good living.

    The event took place at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos monthly gathering in which all the coordinators of a support group of people leaving with HIV/AIDS, Lagos State come together to discuss on the challenges every member  is facing in  and how to resolve same.

    Pastor Peter Obialo, the acting coordinator for Network of People Leaving With HIV/AIDS (NECWAN said HIV patients are facing  a lot of challenges especially stigma and discrimination which cannot be written off. He lamented it is not the way it ought to be. He said people that tested positive are  finding difficult to disclose their status to their partners or family because of fear and the stigma that follows the revelation.They  should be counseled to face the reality of life,he advised.

    Pastor Obialo said ‘’that is why we are here to encourage people to come out to disclose their HIV status and they won’t be stigmatised, rejected or cast out.

    “Though there are little problem here and there especially in the area of finance, which has been their ultimate challenge, we will like to appreciate the Lagos State Government especially Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, and LSACA, which has been the only organisation that is helping us. They are the only one we ran to anytime we are facing challenges. We want to appeal to other institutions to come to our aid to empower us in areas of agriculture, poultry and provide a place for the group to start a business so that they too can help in some areas to support the nation. Being an HIV patient is not a death sentence,this  does not mean we can’t work or we are useless in the society. Empower and train us  or employ us so that we too can be useful in the society at large.”

    One of the coordinators Kadiri Oluseyi, said LSACA has  been a wonderful organisation that has been in partnership with NECWAN for some years back as it has strengthened a lot of people living with HIV/ADS by building their capacity giving  nutritional support and care.

    CEO LSCA,  Dr Oluseyi Temiwo who was represented by Mrs Adebambo Olusola, Assistant Chief Health Education Officer, said the mission of LSCA is to care and support people living with HIV.The   exercise is an “expression of our commitment to the uplifting  of the status of HIV people and that is why we haven’t relented in showing our love, care and support by donating to them. And as part of our plan, we want to  train and  empower them in any skill of their choice and assist them with capital to set up a business in any of the areas they have been trained for.”

  • China, UNAIDS launch zero discrimination social media campaign

    China, UNAIDS launch zero discrimination social media campaign

    The United Nations has launched its “Zero Discrimination” social media campaign in China this year, hoping to raise awareness of discrimination in the country.

    Nicholas Rosellini, UN Resident Coordinator in China, is encouraging Chinese citizens to participate in the campaign, by using drawings, pictures, gifs, audio and video to show support for the campaign in his speech at a news conference organised by UNAIDS China.

    “Everyone has the right to live a life free from discrimination regardless of HIV status, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, other personal characteristics or identification,’’ Rosellini said.

    Shen Jie, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Association of STD and AIDS Prevention and Control, called on governments, society and communities to “speak out for love” to help AIDS patients, especially children, to become braver and better embrace life.

    According to the National Centre for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention under the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, China recorded a total of 747,000 people with HIV as of September 2017.

    As of the end of June, about 542,000 HIV-positive people had received medical treatment and mortality was notably reduced.

    Xinhua/NAN

  • Researchers discover new HIV antibody

    Researchers discover new HIV antibody

    Researchers said they have discovered an HIV antibody that can suppress the virus for nearly six months without additional treatment.

    The new study involved about half of a group of monkeys, infused with a broadly neutralising antibody to HIV combined with an immune stimulatory compound.

    The findings, released at the 25th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Boston, lend a

    clue to strategies that attempt to achieve sustained, drug-free viral remission in people living with HIV.

    Being supported in part by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ), the study may have targeted the viral reservoir, populations of long-lived, latently infected cells that harbour the virus and that lead to resurgent viral replication when suppressive therapy was stopped.

    “HIV excels at evading the immune system by hiding out in certain immune cells,” said NIAID Director Anthony Fauci.

    “The virus can be suppressed to very low levels with antiretroviral therapy, but quickly rebounds to high levels if a person stops taking medications as prescribed.”

    “The findings from this early stage research offer further evidence that achieving sustained viral remission without daily medication might be possible,” he added.

    In the study, scientists from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center infected 44 rhesus macaques with simian human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV), an HIV-like virus commonly used in nonhuman primate studies.

    They then initiated daily antiretroviral therapy (ART) during acute infection to suppress the virus to below detectable levels in the monkey’s blood.

    After a 96-week treatment, researchers divided the monkeys into four equal groups and continued to administer ART for 16 additional weeks, with an aim to determine whether the combination of HIV antibody and immune stimulant could reduce the viral reservoir while virus replication was well controlled by the ART.

    After discontinuation of ART, the virus rebounded in the blood of all 11 monkeys that neither received HIV antibodies or immune stimulant after a median of 21 days.

    The experts also said six of 11 monkeys that received the therapy combination showed a delayed viral rebound after a median of 112 days, and five others of the 11 did not rebound for at least 168 days.

    “Our findings suggest that the development of interventions to activate and eliminate a fraction of the viral reservoir might be possible,” said Dan Barouch, principal investigator of the study.

    The researchers said compared with the antiretroviral therapy which needs to be taken daily, antibodies to HIV tend to last longer in the body and have shown promise for longer-acting HIV therapeutics and prevention modalities.

    Xinhua/NAN

  • UNICEF wants CMAM to cover all LGAs in Gombe

    UNICEF wants CMAM to cover all LGAs in Gombe

    The United Nations Children Fund ( UNICEF ), Bauchi Field Office, on Monday urged the Gombe State Government to expand the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition ( CMAM ) to cover all local government areas.

    Mr Drissa Yeo, Officer-In-Charge, UNICEF Nigeria Bauchi Field Office, made the appeal in Gombe at a two-day states’ engagement plan development meeting for Gombe, Jigawa, Taraba, Plateau and Bauchi states.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that UNICEF defines Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) as a proven approach to manage Severe Acute Malnutrition and Moderate Acute Malnutrition in children under five.

    The approach is presently implemented in more than 70 countries of the World.
    Presently, CMAM is being implemented in only three out of the 11 local government areas in the state; namely Gombe, Dukku and Nafada.

    “I am appealing to the Gombe Government to direct expansion of implementation of the CMAM programme from three to 11 local government areas or to at least three additional LGAs,’’ Yeo said.

    The official also called on the state government to release its counterpart fund of N248 million to support nutrition in the state.

    He said the state government should look at the possibility of releasing N10 million for the 2017/2018 annual school census and maintenance of education management information servers.

    The money, according to Yeo, is also for maintenance of facilities in the state Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board ( SUBEB ).

    He said that this was the first joint planning meeting in the state since the Federal Government and UNICEF started a new five-year programme, which is to be implemented from 2018 to 2022.

    Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr James Pisagih, said the purpose of the meeting was to enable UNICEF and other stakeholders take strategic decisions.

    Pisagih, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Duties, Alhaji Usman Shamaki, said their decisions would guide effective implementation of the new country engagement plan.

    “I therefore commend the UNICEF for its commitments in this regard,” he said.

    Pisagih however called on UNICEF, which had withdrawn its support for HIV intervention in the state, to reconsider its stance.

    He said that its support would facilitate total eradication of the scourge in the state.

    NAN

  • HIV, North East, others get $89m US assistance

    HIV, North East, others get $89m US assistance

    The United States (U.S) Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced $89 million in additional development assistance to Nigeria.

    The latest assistance, according to the statement issued by the U.S Embassy in Abuja yesterday is part of the development agreement between US and Nigeria in 2015.

    The statement reads: “The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced $89 million in additional development assistance to Nigeria to continue its support for development goals outlined in a Development Objectives Assistance Agreement between the U.S. and Nigerian governments signed in 2015.

    Nearly half of the new funding ($44 million) will support HIV/AIDS control through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

    Read Also: ‘Antiretroviral treatment inaccessible by HIV patients’

    The remainder will help northeast Nigeria increase agricultural productivity and economic growth ($15 million); strengthen education ($11 million); support good governance ($10.5 million); and improve water and sanitation infrastructure ($9 million).

    The new funding brings the total U.S. government assistance provided under the five-year assistance agreement to $808.5 million.

    “This new assistance underscores how important the relationship between Nigeria and the United States continues to be,” USAID Acting Mission Director Julie Koenen said. “Our strong partnership with Nigeria and its institutions will help Nigeria’s efforts to improve its health, education, agriculture and governance systems where they are needed most throughout the country.”

    USAID collaborated with the Nigerian Ministry of Budget and National Planning, the Nigerian Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Power, and Education, and state-level government counterparts – among others to structure the bilateral assistance agreement, which runs through 2020.

    “In addition to the development assistance funding, the United States provides humanitarian assistance to people affected by the ongoing conflict and severe food insecurity in Nigeria and throughout the Lake Chad Basin. The U.S government led by USAID has provided more than $526.7 million in humanitarian assistance since 2017, and continues to be the single largest bilateral humanitarian donor to the region.”

     

     

     

     

  • ‘HIV, AIDS cases drop in Lagos’

    ‘HIV, AIDS cases drop in Lagos’

    Lagos has recorded a drop in HIV/AIDS prevalence, the  Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Oluseyi Temowo, has said.

    He stated this at the World AIDS Day, which had as theme: Right to health: Making it happen.

    He said: “We know that there is a drop of 1.7 percent, and the screening done among communities the prevalence rate is 0.3 percent, whereby 576, 406 were screened at different health facilities, and 29, 010 were screened at communities.

    ‘’The figure on positive expectant mothers at antenatal in 2014 is four percent but now, we have 1.4 percent.’’

    He said there are about 217, 658 positive people in the state, and about 64, 554 who are on Anti-retroviral (ARV).

    Temowo said the state was planning to screen physically challenged people living with for HIV, starting with the deaf and the blind.

    “This set of people were neglected before but the decision to enlist them is to ensure nobody is left behind in ensuring that the state captured everybody for an HIV/AIDS state,” he said.

    Temowo urged non- governmental organisations to collaborate with the state on HIV/AIDS to focus on villages, communities and rural areas to achieve the set target of  eradicating the virus by 2030.

    The agency held a talk at Ipodo Market in Ikeja. This was followed by a walk, which started from Obafemi Awolowo Way, passed through Allen Roundabout, and ended at the Office of the President-General of Nigeria Market Men and Women Association, Mrs Folasade Tinubu-Ojo.

    Temowo said the agency would screen for HIV in some markets at Ikorodu and Epe divisions, and in some parts of Ikeja and Alimosho divisions.

    “The market HIV intervention will continue after the World AIDS Day on December 1.We are targeting the market because it is an all-inclusive thing to achieve 90:90:90,” he said.

    At the events, participants were given branded pouches. According to Temowo, the message of the day, is to encourage consumers to screen voluntarily so Lagos could be HIV and AIDS free.

    The market men and women  expressed happiness with the walk. They promised to comply with the agency’s requirements.

     

  • LG offers free health screening to Lagos residents

    LG offers free health screening to Lagos residents

    Many residents of Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State, on Friday, enjoyed free health screening in commemoration of 100 days in office of the council chairman, Mr Tajudeen Ajide.

    The free medical screening, which was organised by the council, offered services such as health education, free eye glasses, screenings for HIV and malaria, free drugs and counselling.

    Some of the residents, especially the elderly, who were the main beneficiaries, lauded the State Government for catering for the elderly in the area.

    A resident, Mrs Sikirat Adebayo, expressed gratitude to the Local Government for the free eye check, adding that she had always ensured that her eyes were in good condition.

    “Although, I regularly go for screening, I am still grateful for the opportunity the chairman has given us to check our health status.

    “I appeal to the government to continue with the programmes such as this, so that many residents, who cannot afford to visit the hospitals can benefit from the services,” she said.

    Read also: Shocking results of a health screening in rural schools

    Another resident, a 60-year-old man, Mr Wahab Jimoh, said the free screening was laudable and should be a continuous exercise as part of the government’s efforts to improve health care delivery.

    Jimoh said that health should be the priority of every government and it should provide adequate health care for its citizens.

    “I appreciate the government for considering the elderly in this exercise because many elderly in the society are neglected.

    “Due to the economic recession, many families struggle to cater for themselves, let alone, their aged parents.

    “The elderly struggle a lot and so we need the help of the government to provide assistance for this vulnerable people in the society,” he said.

    Similarly, Mrs Rafat Adeyemi said that she was grateful for the opportunity to see the health professionals for necessary advice.

    “I am here to check my blood pressure because I am well informed about the benefits of checking it regularly.

    “I commend the government for its effort to provide free screening for the people; it will go a long way in reducing diseases and increasing health education for all,” Adeyemi said.

    In his remarks, the council chairman said all efforts targeted at the development of the grassroots would remain his priority.

    NAN

  • Nigeria second largest HIV epidemic in 2016 – Report

    Nigeria second largest HIV epidemic in 2016 – Report

    Nigeria had the second largest HIV epidemic in 2016, with over 196,000 adolescents representing 10 per cent of the global burden said to be living with HIV/AIDS, according to a World Health Report.

    The report was given by Mrs Esther Samuel, The Chief Matron, Lagos State Ministry of Health, at a programme by a Non-governmental Organisation ( NGO ) Lisa Demi Project, in Lagos.

    The Lisa Demi Project, initiated in the U.K., seeks address the sexual health issues through Talks, Counselling and Entertainment among others.

    The programme, held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere, Lagos on Thursday, and title “ Let’s Talk about Our Sexual Health’’, is targeted at teenagers between the ages 14 to 24.

    Speaking on the dangers of unrestrained sexual activities among the youths, Samuel said the statistics from the health sector remained a concern.

    “Nigeria has the second largest HIV epidemic. About 3.2 million people Nigerians were living with HIV in 2016.

    “In Nigeria, over 196,000 adolescents, representing 10 percent of the global burden, are said to be living with HIV/AIDS.

    “Also. 230,000 babies were born by girls aged 15 to 19 in 2015. This is a frightening report. However, 1 million STIs are acquired every day,’’ she said.

    Read also: http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/50-nigerians-living-hiv-adolescents-unicef/

    Relaying the statistics further, Samuel said that the world was groaning under the heavy burden of sexually transmitted diseases.

    “Each year, there are estimated 357 million new infections, while globally more than 2 million 10 to 19-year-olds are living with HIV.

    “About one in seven of all new HIV infections occur during adolescence.

    In the U.S., 21 per cent of the adolescents had drunk alcohol or used drugs before last sexual intercourse.

    “About 85 per cent of these youths live in developing countries, while we also have 32 per cent of Nigerian population as youths which half (48.6 per cent) of adolescents aged 15 to 19 are sexually active.

    “About 1 in 5 of sexually active females and 1 in 12 sexually active males had already engaged in sexual intercourse by the age of 15,’’ she said.

    Samuel said that the alarming statistics should call for urgent action so as not to lose the bulk of the productive population to untreatable diseases such as STDs and STIs.

    “These are real figures which should bring something to our mind and it is no other thing than fear, and a call to action, especially among our youths.

    “Our youths must be cautioned to refrain and advise. They all need to be guided not to waste their lives on what is worth waiting for.

    “The youths should start to avoid something they call a little thing that does not matter but are sexual behaviours such as kissing, keeping secret friendships and others.

    “We should focus on health education and STI prevention through school seminars, clubs, social media, parents, peer groups and proper counseling when STDs are detected early,’’ she said.

    NAN reports that the event has in attendance over 1,000 students drawn from schools in Lagos.

    NAN

  • UNICEF, NOA mobilises journalists to fight HIV in Kaduna

    UNICEF, NOA mobilises journalists to fight HIV in Kaduna

    The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund ( UNICEF ) and the National Orientation Agency ( NOA ) have mobilised 43 journalists to check the increasing prevalence of HIV/AIDS among Adolescent and Young Persons ( AYPs ) in Kaduna State.

    The Officer in charge of UNICEF, Kaduna Field Office, Dr Idris Baba, said at a One-day Media Dialogue on AYPs HIV Intervention held in Zaria, that the move was necessary to curb the increasing HIV related deaths among AYPs.

    Baba said that UNICEF had committed significant resources to supporting AYPs HIV intervention in the state, noting that much would not be achieved without support from the media.

    “For various reasons ranging from gender, biological to socio-economic; young women have a higher HIV prevalence rate and were infected earlier in life than men of the same age group.

    “So far, only about seven per cent of AYPs in the state knows their HIV status due to lack of HIV/AIDS awareness and because HIV services in health facilities are not youth-friendly.

    “This is why UNICEF in collaboration with the state government launched the AYP-HIV intervention project, a combination of HIV counselling, testing and treatment.

    “The project is being implemented in seven local government areas of Chikun, Igabi, Lere, Kagarko, Birnin Gwari, Jaba and Jema’a,’’ he said.

    Baba explained that youths were not comfortable discussing HIV related issues with elderly people, adding that they felt comfortable with their peers and open up more.

    “This means that we will break more grounds when we engage youths to sensitise their peers about the virus to increase demand for the services.

    Read also: UNICEF spends N200m to tackle HIV in Kaduna

    “It is for this reason that we trained 624 AYPs as demand creators, counsellors and testers for the project.

    “468 are creating demand for HIV services, while 156 are providing HIV counselling and testing services in the seven LGAs,’’ he said.

    Baba said the project had reached out to 147,196 AYPs with HIV information in the seven LGAs from August to date of which 39,927 were tested and received result.

    “Our goal is to ensure that 90 per cent of HIV positive AYPs know their status, 90 per cent HIV positive placed on treatment and achieve 90 per cent viral load suppression among the HIV positive by 2020,’’ he said.

    Earlier, the Media and External Relation Officer, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, Malam Rabiu Musa, had said the meeting was organised to discusse issues affecting AYPs in the state.

    Musa said that the meeting provided the needed avenue to interact with journalists in Kaduna and design effective ways of reaching out to the AYPs through media reportage.

    Also, Malam Lawal Haruna, a Deputy Director, NOA Kaduna Office, also said that media was crucial in winning the war against HIV in the state.

    “This is because the media informs, educates and influences peoples’ opinion and decisions with the potential of reaching a large audience.

    “We therefore, need the media to continue with their support of providing the needed awareness on HIV/AIDS among young persons on how to remain HIV free,’’ Haruna said.

    NAN

  • 3,027 pregnant women live with HIV in Nigeria – NPHCDA

    3,027 pregnant women live with HIV in Nigeria – NPHCDA

    The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said on Friday 3,027 out of 121,396 pregnant women tested positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) during the first round of the Maternal and Newborn Child Health (MNCH) Week.

    A representative of the Agency, Victoria Azodoh, disclosed this at a three -day seminar on Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) for Wives of North Central Governors in Minna.

    She also said 1,870 out of 129,838 women of child bearing age also tested positive to HIV.

    Azodoh said the data was gathered during the MNCH week nationwide.

    She also said 336,430 children were immunized, 29,265,569 given Vitamin A and 15,240676 dewormed across Nigeria.

    The Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, expressed dismay at the high malnutrition and maternal and child mortality rate in the country, describing it as disheartening.

    Mrs. Buhari, who was represented by former deputy Governor of Plateau State,  Chief Pauline Tallen, said the situation whereby the nation records 120 deaths per 1000 live birth is unacceptable and should be addressed.