From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
The Osun State Government on Monday disclosed that 33,882 people are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Bar Jola Akintola, revealed this at the 2024 World AIDS Day, held at Adolak Event Centre, Osogbo. He stated that 151,876 people have been tested, of whom 1,307 tested positive, including 41 pregnant women.
He said, “As of July 2024, over 151,876 patients have been tested in Osun State. About 1,307 who tested positive have been put on treatment. About 18,493 pregnant women were tested, and 41 were positive and have been put on treatment.
“Osun has about 22 sites offering comprehensive HIV services where people get tested and receive medicine. We have an estimated number of 33,882 people living with HIV in the state. We have been able to hold continuous bi-monthly HIV steering committee meetings,” Akintola said.
He disclosed that the state government, in collaboration with implementing partners, has registered over 300 people living with HIV/AIDS in the state health insurance scheme free of charge. He assured that efforts are ongoing to ensure the state continues managing people living with HIV after the exit of development partners in 2030.
The wife of the governor, Ngozi Adeleke, appealed to the people of the state to support her husband in eradicating HIV/AIDS, promising to contribute to the fight against the syndrome.
She lamented the stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS and called on the people of Osun to stop discriminating and accommodate all positive patients to enable them to live longer.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Osun State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OSACA), Olusegun Daramola, explained that the theme of this year’s celebration, “Take the Right Path,” was to remind people of their collective responsibility to uphold human rights in the response to HIV/AIDS.
He commended Governor Ademola Adeleke for his commitment to bringing healthcare closer to the people and working towards eradicating AIDS in the state.
