Over 12,700 enrolled for treatment in Benue

An International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO), AIDS Healthcare Foundation, AHF – Nigeria, has joined its global program to celebrate the milestone of over two million clients in care.

AHF officials as well as a team from the state Government were at the General Hospital Gbajimba in Guma Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state on Tuesday, where the organisation commenced operations in 2011 to celebrate the landmark event.

AHF is the largest global AIDS body and currently provides medical care and/or services to over 2 million clients in 46 countries worldwide, including the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe.

In Africa, the organisation works in 14 countries, Nigeria inclusive. In Nigeria, AHF works in Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River states and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Speaking during the event, the Commissioner for Health, Benue state Dr Yanmar Ortese, expressed immense gratitude to AHF for their services to the Benue people while he also congratulated them for attaining the feet of keeping two million clients alive globally.

While likening their coming and operations in Gbajimba to that of the missionaries, Ortese expressed Government’s commitment to continue to work with them, promising that the state government would continue to provide an enabling environment for them to carry out their functions especially as regards their security and any other desired support.

The Commissioner urged the people to be careful with their lives saying HIV is still much present in the state, “Even though some of our clients have their viral loads as low as 0, there are still people going about with active infections. We must shine our eyes and take the necessary precautions so that by the year 2030, we would have a HIV free population.

The Executive Secretary Benue State Agency for the Control of AIDS, (BENSACA) Mr Titus Wango, commended the Organization for taking care of 46 countries of the world and linking 12,700 Benue people to treatment and access to ARVs saying they have also done well in tracking treatments of their clients.

While also commending the clients for making themselves available for treatment and accessing their drugs, Mr Wango urged them to be faithful with their treatment just as he called on the State Government prepare to take over from where the partners have stopped to ensure sustainability of the health programmes in the state.

Also speaking, the Senior Regional Medical Manager, Dr John Ugboji, said they were happy to be back to Gbajimba where AHF started in Benue to celebrate their achievement.

Ugboji said “The journey started exactly on August 11, 2011, at the General Hospital Gbajimba as AHF first program site and the only general hospital that AHF is supporting in Benue state.

He said they are also supporting other facilities and sites Guma LGA, including FSP Daudu, FSP Agan, CAC Agasha, among others, saying that out of the over 12,700 clients they are treating in 16 LGAs of Benue state, 5000 come from Guma LGA alone.

“We are not taking that for granted. Presently we are supporting 48 facilities in Benue and today we have achieved a tremendous milestone with over 12,700 clients in Benue while reaching 2,042,957 clients globally. Unlike other Organizations, AHF are in Benue to stay and we are committed to ensuring that by the year 2030, there would be little or no new HIV infections in the state.

Also speaking, the Advocacy and Marketing Manager AHF Nigeria, Steve Aborisade while also congratulating his Organization for the landmark achievement said Gbajimba remains very dear to their heart and they are committed to do more for the state.

Steve said “It gives us joy to see how the communities have embraced us and we are here to stay. We thank the Benue state government, our clients and the communities for working with us to achieve this feat and we pledge that we are here to stay and we will do more to contribute to the health and wellness of Benue citizens.”

The medical officer in charge of Gbajimba General Hospital, Dr Samuel Iorsula appreciated AHF for choosing the facility saying they have been committed to the care of people living with HIV and AIDS in the community.

Other speakers, a representative of the Director of Public Health at the state Ministry of Health, Mr Julius Swande and the State AIDS Program Coordinator, Dr Gabriel Amafu also appreciated AHF for their work in the state.

Amafu who thanked them for putting smiles on the faces of the rural people said if not for them those in the hinterland would not have had access to ARVs.

Giving their testimonies, some of the clients, Dorcas Damkor and Chief Andrew Perver thanked AHF for providing them with ARVs and fot saving their lives.

Dorcas who narrated how difficult it was in the past to transport themselves to Makurdi, the state capital to access drugs in the past said “If not for AHF, many of us won’t be a life today. We are happy to be getting our drugs right here at our doorsteps and we pray God to bless them.