Ondo lists measures to stamp out HIV/AIDS

ONDO State yesterday allayed fears of the people, declaring that the government has put in place sufficient measures to combat the HIV/AIDS scourge.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman, Ondo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ODSACA), Dr. Aderotimi Adelola listed several measures embarked upon by the state government to stamp out the virulent disease.

The SSG stated these during a “condom use and safer sex sensitization” exercise to hotels in Akure, as part of the activities to mark the 2015 World AIDS Day.

Adelola disclosed that since his assumption of office, the HIV/AIDS counselling and testing centres have expanded from three to 230 centres and spread across the 18 LGAs of the state.

He added that the government is working towards ensuring there is zero HIV new infection, discrimination and stigmatization of people living with HIV, mother to child transmission and AIDS related death

He maintained that ODSACA, with the support of other sister agencies and stakeholders, is implementing strategic action plans in order to promote behavioural change, ensure care and support for people living with the virus.

As a policy, the SSG expressed the determination of government at all levels to enforce the extant HIV laws to protect those living with the virus and curtail its spread in the state.

He reaffirmed that the state has over the years successfully articulated policies and programmes to sustain the efforts of the agency in the fight against the scourge.

Adelola, who encouraged the people to know their HIV status, informed that the law relating to HIV in the state empowers ODSACA to enforce HIV related laws.