The National Agency for
the Control of AIDS (NACA) said last Thursday that the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in Cross River had dropped by 0.5%.
A director with NACA, Dr Marian Ezekwe, made the disclosure at Ikom, Ikom Local Government Area of the state, at the ongoing HIV testing and counselling outreach.
The four-day event is being held simultaneously at the Presbyterian Primary School in Ikom Town and Edor community of the council area.
Ezekwe said that the state recorded a skyrocketed prevalence rate of 7.1% in 2010, but later nosedived to 6.6% in 2014.
“This is an indication that Cross River is doing its bid in the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge in the state,” she said.
The director attributed the reduction to the high level of awareness and the desire by the people to come out publicly and receive treatment without fear of stigmatisation and discrimination.
She said the bill on stigmatisation had been passed into law by the State Assembly and more positive developments were being expected, to reduce the scourge.
Ezekwe said that the aim of the exercise was to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ending HIV/AIDS in 2030.
“What we are having here is part of the 999 strategy because our theme for this year is ending AIDS in 2030 and the only way you can do this is by knowing your status.
“What this means is that 90% of persons should know their status.”
Coordinator of Friends Forever Society, Dr Patrick Olisa, the vendor organisation that facilitated the programme, said that NACA was now tackling HIV/AIDS differently.
Olisa said that with funding from SURE-P, the agency now maintains a holistic approach of also checking other diseases that are perceived to come alongside the pandemic.
He said, “NACA has changed the plan by checking HIV holistically to include other tests affecting weight, height, blood pressure, sugar test and malaria.
“We have also had talks about hygiene, Ebola, safe ante-natal health and there has been free drugs supply.”
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Felicia Okpata, thanked the government for making it possible for them to access medical checks.
