Health Ministry sets to reduce HIV/AIDS prevalence

ANAMBRA State health Commissioner, Dr Vincent Okpala has reassured of the Ministry’s readiness to reduce prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the state.

  Dr Okpala made the commitment when he received a team from National AIDS and State Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health in his office, at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.

The commissioner assured them that the state government would continue to provide the enabling environment that would encourage successful outcome of their visit to Anambra.

 He commended the team for coming into the state to help to harmonise and coordinate HIV activities in the area.

 Dr Okpala wished them well as they continue their journey to six selected Local Government Areas  and six facilities from each of the LGAs.

Leader of the Team, Mr Chidi Okorie, a Pharmacist, said that they were in the state on an integrated supervision visit on HIV/AIDS.

 “We want to see how we will coordinate HIV activities in the state in such a way that we can optimise resources and reduce prevalence of HIV in this place.

` `Also we mobilise to optimise resources for HIV control in the state and Nigeria.

“Actually we are coming here to develop a checklist from the state Health Ministry, state management board, six selected LGAs and six facilities in each of the LGAs,” he stressed,

Mr Okorie said that they wanted to ensure good coordination among federal, state and LGAs and the facilities.

 “The aim is to ensure that there is provision for quality healthcare services to the people,” he said.