Gombe State Agency for the Control of AIDS has treated at least 5,340 HIV/AIDS babies.
The state agency said that 26,120 others are also treating the viral infection.
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In a chat with newsmen at the commemoration of the 2021 World AIDS Day in Gombe state, the Project Manager of the agency Dr Suraj Abdulkarim explained the cause for the cases in children.
Abdulkarim said one of the causes is that some pregnant women failed to get tested. This might have exposed the children to the disease.
He also lamented the lack of HIV tests kits in primary healthcare facilities as a setback in Gombe.
The project manager also appreciated donor agencies for supporting 250 HIV/AIDS persons. He acknowledged that their efforts had boosted the reduction of the virus in Gombe.
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He said, “31,450 people are on treatment, 5,340 of them are children.
“Test kits are not available in most primary health care facilities. Some pregnant women not tested during the antenatal stage led to delivering of babies with HIV.”
Abdulkarim further revealed sensitization efforts by the agency on the viral infection. He said the agency has extended campaigns to custodial centres and other specialized groups.
The State Coordinator for Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, Bathsea Kalah revealed a new test kit.
She said the name was Oral quick self-test kit. Kalah explained that this test kit requires saliva instead of blood for the test.
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The State Coordinator urged the government to make the oral quick self-test kit affordable. She added that it cost N1000 per kit.
World AIDS Day is celebrated every December 1. The goal is to educate and inform people about the disease.
The 2021 World AIDS Day lent a voice to the Inequalities on the virus. The theme was ‘End Inequalities, End AIDS through a sustainable HIV financing in Nigeria’.
Source: PUNCH HealthWise
