Ekiti State Government has commended health practitioners in the state
over their diligence and commitment to healthcare services delivery
which has fetched the state the enviable achievement of being the
state with the lowest prevalence of HIV in the South West and the
second lowest in Nigeria.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Mojisola
Yaya-Kolade made this known while declaring open the training of 80
health workers on HIV Testing Services and the use of Test kit in
Ado-Ekiti.
She restated the commitment of her Ministry towards getting to zero
level of HIV new infection and AIDS related deaths in Ekiti State,
especially for pregnant women to maintain the good record the state
health sector has attained.
Dr. Kolade reminded health workers in the state of the
Anti-Discrimination Bill which has been passed into law; “This means
that anyone who discriminates against People Living with HIV (PLHIV)
will face the wrath of the law”. She said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Folakemi
Olomojobi appreciated Governor Kayode Fayemi for giving priority to
the health of Ekiti people and working relentlessly to ensure that the
state meet up with its record of 8 years back as the second lowest HIV
prevalence state in Nigeria with 0.8%.
Olomojobi charged the health workers to go back to their facilities to
do the pilot test of the training because every pregnant woman in
Ekiti must have HIV counseling and test free of charge to prevent
Mother-to-Child transmission of HIV.
“Let it be on record once again that being tested HIV positive is not
a death verdict and health workers must be the vanguard that people
must not discriminate against them”. She said.
In his remarks, the Director Disease Control, Dr. Ayodele Seluwa said
it is now a rule in Ekiti State for all mothers to know their HIV
status and it has become part of the services to be rendered in the
Ministry of Health.
He appreciated the state government for the training and pledged on
behalf of the trainees that they will give in their best to ensure
that transmission of HIV from Mother to Child becomes a thing of the
past in Ekiti state.