The Jama,atul Nasirul Islam ( JNI ) Kaduna chapter has appealed to the state Government to establish more HIV/Aids centers across the 23 local governments to reduce the high rate of the scourage in rural areas.
The chairman of JNI in the state, Alhaji Jafaru Makarfi made the call at a news conference in kaduna on Wednesday.
Makarfi said the main purpose of the briefing was aimed at drawing the attention of the government on the significance of establishing the HIV/Aids treatment centres.
“HIV/AIDS is a silent killer because many people are carriers but they don’t know they are carrying this sickness until they die.
“In Kaduna alone we have about 700 orphans so with this number we should be in a place where they are segregated so that we can take care of them adequately,” he said.
He noted that for the problem to be tackled, there was need for stakeholders to intensify effort toward making people to come forward to be tested.
“This will enable them to know their own status early enough so that they will be able to save themselves since its can be completely eradicated.
The chairman said, “JNI has the list of about 700 orphans in kaduna whose parents die of HIV/Aids.
“In Kaduna alone not to talk of Local governments so we are expanding this to the 23 LGAs particularly in rural areas.
“We don’t know who are the carriers because they claimed to have this sickness or the other without knowing what is bothering them ”
Makarfi streesed the need for the media to create awareness on the need for people especially at the grassroots to avails themselves to be tested for HIV/Aids.
According to him, the organisation was determined to employ and train people that would go house to house to check on the menance.
“If we don’t likely in the next 20 years we are going to be a nation of widows and Orphans,” he said.
He called on Non Governmental Organizations to come together under one umbrella with a view to sensitising the public on dangers of scourage. .
“The government should also come in to collaborate with other organisations and fight the silent killer disease”
He called on people to stop stigmatization saying that the disease is not infectious and therefore stop discrimination against people living with HIV/Aid.
Malam Isah Kusalla, Secretary JNI kaduna chapter said the issue of HiV /AIDS is very important and streesed the need for intensified testing and taking care of those that have tested positive.
Kufaina called on government and wealthy individuals to assist in catering for those affected by the disease.
“Wealthy individuals should bring their Zakkat (Alms) to JNI for distribution to the poor as we have the means of accounting for whatever is given to us,” he said.
Hajiya Aisha Usman, The coodinator, Al-Umma Foundation, an NGO said she has been living with HIV for over 17 years,adding the foundation is for women living with HIV/Aids under JNI.
According to her, she has adopted no fewer than six orphans that are positive to HIV/AIDS and urged the government to look for centers where those children and their parents could be taken care of.
NAN
