HIV/AIDS cases in Ebonyi hit 260,000

Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health Dr. Daniel Umezuruike has disclosed that total of 260 thousands persons are estimated to be infected with HIV in the state.

Dr. Umezuruike, who made the disclosure yesterday in Abakaliki on the occasion to mark the flag off of 2017 world AIDS Day celebration, said the figure was based on zero-prevalence rate of 0.9% (MICS 5) 2016.

He lamented that despite awareness and crusade on HIV globally, only 600.000 patients, out of 3.4 million persons infected in the country, are on drug and Ebonyi State with a prevalence of 0.9% (MICS), only about 4000 persons are on drugs.

The commissioner noted that the state being aware of Vision 90-90-90, which is present trend in HIV prevention stands for test 90% of all infected persons, treat 90% of all infected persons and achieve viral suppression by 90% of all those on treatment has developed an action plan to maintain the Standard.

According to him, the state has total of 202 HIV Health Service facilities comprising the HIV Testing Service Sites, Prevention from Mother to Child Transmission sites and comprehensive sites scattered all over the 171 wards in the state noting that this shows availability of free HIV services in all the wards in all the state.

His words “With these action plans on ground I therefore ask the general public to avail themselves the opportunity provided by the state government and partners for free testing and treatment in all the wards of the state to present themselves for free test”.

“Knowing your status is the best for every individual as it avails you the opportunity of starting early treatment. It is note worthy to clearly state that testing positive is not a sentence but beginning of a new life,” he said.