HIV/AIDS: FG Blames States For Poor Programmes

The Federal Government has expressed disappointment over the
lackadaisical attitude of some state governors in implementing the
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS programmes in
their states.
Speaking during a stakeholders' meeting entitled: 'Most at Risk
Population Programme Implementation and Impact Evaluation' organised
by NACA, Director-General of National Agency for the Control of AIDS,
Prof. JohnIdoko, said the state governments have to do more in
combating the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The government also warned of a possible increase in the spread of
HIV/AIDS because many young people do not have access to information
and drugs.
Nigeria presently contributes two-thirds tothe global HIV births
withan estimated 70,000 children born with HIV annually.
Idoko said investigationsfrom some states visited by NACA revealed
that although the general hospitals were well-equipped, the ante-natal
attendance by pregnant women was still very low.
"In South Africa, out of the about three million people infected by
HIV/AIDS, two million of them are on drugs. Every eye is on Nigeria.
If we want to save lives, PMTCT is the largest hanging fruit to
achieve it. If we address the PMTCT burden in Nigeria, we would have
addressed the global burden placed on us.
"In some of the states, most of the general hospitals are well
equipped. Yet, the ante-natal attendance has been very poor. In one of
the hospitals, 600 women registered for ante-natal. But at the endof
the day, only four eventually delivered there.
"We want to double the number of people currently on drugs from
500,000 to 1.2 million and provide treatment for 80,000 pregnant women
to prevent mother-to-child transmission. In one particular state, six
local government areas don't have Prevention of Mother-to-Child
Transmission programme," Idoko said