C’River restates commitment to tackling HIV/AIDS

Cross River State Government has restated commitment to tackling HIV/AIDS in the state. The Director General of the State Action Committee on AIDS, Dr. Etcheri Ansa, affirmed the commitment, yesterday, during a media parley on 2022 World AIDS Day, with the theme:  “Equalise to end AIDS, equal access to treatment and prevention service.”

He said the state would continue to strengthen its collaboration with development partners to bridge existing gaps and deepen user-friendly HIV services across the state.

Ansa, who was represented by Grace Ibor, thanked donor agencies and development partners for efforts towards HIV response in the state. She said the disease prevalence in the state, which is at two per cent, is still higher than the national prevalence and has put the state in the 12th position in the country.

“Cross River State has made great strides towards meeting worldwide 95 per cent target and the state is grateful to its development partners. We are also grateful for the tremendous work that is going on at the council level to ensure people have access to HIV support services.”

“We hope to work with you to close the existing gaps so we can deliver user friendly HIV services. As we plan towards 2023, we are hoping all the gaps will be bridged,” she said.

The CRSACA DG stressed that the two per cent prevalence rate of the state is still higher than the national prevalence, placing the Cross River in 12th position, leaving much to be done in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Senior Technical Officer with Excellent Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), Dr. Emmanuel Egbe, said his organisation, as lead partner, would remain committed to strengthening collaboration with relevant stakeholders in bridging existing gaps.

Head, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Cross River, Marija Rakovic, thanked the government for providing conducive environment for partners to thrive in the state.

Rakovic, who was represented by ASRH/HIV analyst, Mr. Ike Nteigbanam, pledged to continue working with the state to provide access to universal HIV prevention and support services.