Nwaigbo lauds Rochas on fight against HIV/AIDS

The Hon Commissioner, Ministry of Inter-governmental Affairs and Donor Agencies, Dr. Ernest Nwaigbo has commended the Executive Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha for his relentless effort in the fight against HIV/AIDS Pandemic in the state.
He made the commendation during the flag-off ceremony of the 2018 World Aids day celebration. He said the Governor has made tremendous efforts to ensure that Imo State is free of the scourge of HIV/AIDS by providing the necessary logistics to the relevant agencies and groups in the fight of the dreaded decease.
Dr. Nwaigbo said the World Aids day celebration is dedicated to the fight against the pandemic. It also creates an opportunity for the International Community to show support for people living with and affected by HIV, and commemorate with those who have died from an AIDS – related illness, sensitize the general public on how prevention and treatment strategies as well as strengthen awareness creation on modes of transmission. According to Dr. Nwaigbo, the occasion is also aimed at fighting stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. He called on various agencies, including international organizations, development partners and all other sectors of civil society organizations to work together in campaigning against specific themes related to AIDS.
The theme for this year’s World AIDS day celebration is “Know Your Status” which according to him is a renewed clarion call to awaken societal consciousness toward the pandemic and to seek to promote access to HIV/AIDS prevention service. He said the theme encourages early diagnosis and prompt treatment. He encouraged women of childbearing age, pregnant mothers and nursing mothers to know their HIV status which he said creates opportunity for early enrolment to elimination of mother-to-child transmission.
He regretted that inspite of the aggressive awareness created so far, Imo State is still recording considerable number of people living with HIV/AIDS and dying of AID related illnesses.
He said “we cannot relent in the fight until everyone living in the state gets to know their HIV status, which according to him encourages early diagnosis with prompt linkages to treatment.
In his speech earlier, the Director General of Imo SACA, Dr. Charles Durueke commented the effort of NACA in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Imo State. He said NACA has supported maternal and newborn child heath (MHCH) week activities in the state, and other activities in effort to mitigate against the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Durueke, thanked all individuals, groups and organization that has contributed in one way or the other hi making the fight against HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Imo State a success.