30,350 people receiving HIV treatment in Ogun — Govt

Dr. Tomi Coker

THE Ogun State government has disclosed that no fewer than 30,350 individuals are receiving HIV/AIDS treatment in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, disclosed this in Abeokuta, at a conference to commemorate World AIDS Day. He explained that children made up two per cent of the population.

The programme is with the theme: “Take the Right Path, Sustain HIV Response, Stop HIV among Children in Ogun State, Nigeria.”

The Commissioner said that the statistics highlighted the urgent need to focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission and ensuring that children living with HIV had access to the care and treatment they needed.

She noted that to sustain the current momentum and achieve zero cases of HIV/AIDS by 2030, “increasing funding for HIV programmes to ensure their sustainability must be prioritised.”

She said: “Achieving our goals requires sustaining the momentum of our HIV response. A comprehensive approach, involving prevention, testing, treatment, and support services, is critical. 

“Prevention efforts must include widespread education, the promotion of safe practices such as condom use, and ensuring access to testing services. 

“Through timely testing, we can identify cases early and connect individuals to life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART), which not only improves their health but also prevents further transmission.

“With a prevalence rate of 1.6 per cent (2018), we are steadily progressing towards achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets—where 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed are on treatment.

“95 per cent of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression. Currently, Ogun State stands at 95 per cent, 76 per cent, and 83 per cent across the three targets.”

Culled from Vanguard