By Mark Eneng
...Over 3,000 Persons Living With HIV/AIDS Benefitting From Govt Palliatives for the Vulnerable.
The Director General of State Agency for the Control of Aids (SACA), Dr Etcheri Ansa, said over three thousand (3,000) vulnerable Persons Living with HIV/AIDS have been captured in the ongoing palliatives given by the State government aimed at curtailing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Ansa disclosed this during an interactive meeting with a coalition of civil organizations known as Civil Society Network for HIV/ AIDS in the State, to assess the impact of the COVID-19 on those living with the disease. In her address, the DG noted that the HIV/AIDS awareness was getting low commitment and attention from all stakeholders.
"Concerning COVID-19, is the main reason why I insisted that I must meet with the Civil Society Network for HIV/AIDS. Like you all know, the Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, took a very drastic step by closing the Borders before time and coming up with the compulsory use of face mask together with hand washing. This has greatly reduced the high risk associated with this pandemic. Our borders are surrounded with 'Lions', there are over 12 already confirmed cases in Akwa Ibom, some cases in Ebonyi and the most dreaded, the Cameroon, we must be on alert always."
The DG who expressed concerns over the lockdown impact on PLWH/A, said government was already cushioning this impact by providing palliatives for the vulnerable persons. She said so far, the government through the Agency, was reaching out to over three thousand (3000) persons.
"So far concerning the palliatives that the State government issued to the vulnerable people in the State, over 3000 persons have been captured in the data from the Agency.
Although not all HIV patients are vulnerable, but there are some who are really affected by the effect of the pandemic and need support which fall within the Data of the 3000."
Further on the need to renew the awareness campaign about HIV/ AIDS, the DG said; "HIV/AIDS now sounds like an old song, no one is really giving it the needed attention it deserves. We have to continue the awareness to ensure that the rate of transmission is drastically reduced. I believe in educating, keep educating your communities."
"The truth is, COVID-19 whether we like it or not, we are more concern about what will happen to our patients. COVID-19 is a virus, HIV is a virus and you already know that in HIV patients there is the problem of immune depletion. Although we do not have any issue yet relating HIV and COVID-19, but we all have to be awake and alert so that we won't be carried away," she added
In their contributions during feedback interactive session, coordinators of the various community organizations expressed their appreciation to the Governor for ensuring that the State remained COVID-19 free. They also called on government to ensure that the palliatives given actually get to those who are in serious need of them, while also appealing for more palliatives to reach the larger number of the vulnerable persons in the communities.
The Civil Society groups also shared their efforts and activities geared towards the prevention of COVID-19 spread in their various communities.
Speaking at the sideline of the meeting, the State Coordinator of Civil Society Network for HIV/AIDS, outlined their activities and takeaway to include awareness and outreach by some Organizations in the communities.
"So far, the DG SACA has been able to explain the Cross River State strategic plan towards the prevention of COVID-19. Our Organizations are spread across the 18 LGAs of the State, each carrying out care and Support to the people.
We have had first hand information on what the government is doing and having heard the State's strategy, we as civil society shared what we have done so far to support government response and also help the people.
"Going forward, we will come out with a blueprint template on how to report targeted intervention and share community response with the government. The concern of the civil society is centred on the reduction in prevalence and care to those who are positive. We interface between PLWH/A and so our blueprint template will enable government in the policy on HIV/AIDS.
However, there is a drastic reduction in the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS which is currently put at 1.7percent (NACA, 2019)
DG SACA called on all stakeholders and partners to support the government's efforts in the fight against COVID-19. She further charges citizens to adhere to the medical guidelines on social Distancing, frequent washing of hands and constant use of family planning especially the use of condoms to prevent other infectious diseases.
High point of the meeting was presentation and distribution of hand sanitizers, face masks and other consumables for the prevention of the spread of the virus.
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