The Acting Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Ibrahim Anate, has revealed that approximately 50,000 individuals in the state are currently living with HIV/AIDS.
Anate made this known during a journalist interactive session held in Lokoja on Monday as part of activities marking the 2024 World AIDS Day.
The event included a road walk organized in collaboration with the Centre for Integrated Health Programmes.
According to Anate, “About 50,000 people are living with HIV in Kogi State. Out of this number, 36,066 are receiving treatment. We are working tirelessly to raise awareness about HIV in all communities, including hard-to-reach areas.”
He highlighted the commitment of the state government, led by Governor Usman Ododo, to ensuring that those living with HIV have access to treatment.
The administration also aims to prevent mother-to-child transmission and enable HIV-positive women to deliver babies free of the virus.
“The government is providing robust support to the Ministry of Health and KOSACA to intensify outreach efforts, particularly in remote areas. We are determined to see that people living with HIV in Kogi State can access treatment and, ultimately, achieve better health outcomes,” Anate added.
However, he noted that ongoing security challenges in parts of the state have hindered some patients from accessing necessary care. Anate also appealed to Governor Ododo to sign the Anti-Stigma HIV Law recently passed by the Kogi State House of Assembly.
“When this law is signed, it will empower people living with HIV to disclose their status without fear of discrimination. Stigmatization remains a significant barrier in our society,” he stated.
In her remarks, Inyama Lawrencia, the Technical Lead of CIHP in Kogi State, expressed concern over the continued transmission of HIV from mothers to their children.
“We are urging all pregnant women to attend antenatal services to determine their HIV status. Unfortunately, due to financial difficulties, many women cannot afford to seek these services,” she said.
Lawrencia emphasized that CIHP has intensified community sensitization efforts to address mother-to-child transmission, but economic constraints remain a significant obstacle.
