From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja
The United States of America (U.S) has announced additional support for 45,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in Benue State.
This is beside the 167,000 already receiving anti-retroviral treatment through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), being administered by the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The gesture will start in September.
The U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), Kathleen FitzGibbon, led a courtesy call on Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, sat the launch of the U.S supported Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) Surge.
FitzGibbon was concerned about the negative effect of user-fees charged to PLHIV by healthcare facilities. He urged the governor to ensure the user-fee is stopped.
She also urged Ortom to prioritise the procurement of additional HIV test kits to support the current PEPFAR efforts.
The additional test kits are necessary for identifying PLHIV in communities, as well as the rapid and sustained effort to put them on life-saving medications. This effort will ensure they live normal, productive, and healthy lives, and break virus transmission.
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