05/12/2021
WORLD AIDS DAY: GOVERNOR Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya ELATED AS GOMBE REGISTERS SPECTACULAR PROGRESS IN FIGHTING HIV/AIDS
......unveils further strategy in the fight as the state marks 2021 UN-declared World Aids Day.....
By Mato Adamu
Governor Inuwa Yahaya's acknowledgement of this unprecedented progress so far achieved in combatting the dreaded disease was contained in a message at the event marking the 2021 World Aids Day, themed: "END INEQUALITIES, END AIDS"
While declaring this year's theme as most appropriate, Governor Inuwa not only expressed sympathy at the devastation of HIV/AIDS' plague on it's victims in Gombe, but also reiterated his administration's resolve towards the Optimal Control of the debilitating condition and it's attendant scourge on human lives in the State.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya also described as worrisome, the trauma inflicted by the stigma attached to unfortunate victims, as being proportionate to the existence of the deadly Virus itself on the lives of those unfortunate enough to be living with the killer desease.
Hence, according to him, the appropriateness of the the current commemoration, tagged, "End INEQULITIES, END AIDS."
Governor Inuwa then concurred to the fact that there must be deliberate efforts to move faster on a set of concrete actions agreed by United Nations Member States to address the inequalities that are driving the prevalence of this dreaded Virus.
The Governor also acknowledged the deadly status of "AIDS" as a pandemic, with severe threat level and Apocalyptic consequences on human race, maintaining that only by fast-tracking the process of bringing an end to all the inequalities that are driving the pandemic, can any decisive progress be achieved in ending AIDS Pandemic, whose prevention and treatment services now, are apparently facing serious threat of disruption, resurgence and prevalence from the COVID-19 crisis.
Governor Inuwa then stated that, "Today, we also celebrate the drop in HIV prevalence in Gombe State from 2.5% in 2014 to 1.2% in 2021. This great achievement was a result of our collective hard work and commitment and due largely to the leadership of the State Government in partnership with local government institutions; development partners, the UN systems, Global Fund, civil society organizations and others".
However, Governor Inuwa warned that despite recording these considerable successes, a huge void still remains to be filled before achieving a meaningful end to the scourge, adding that only a well-focussed team work approach is capable of providing the required logistics in the facilitation of winning this all-important crusade to achieve the total elimination of the threat of HIV/AIDS".
The Governor then announced his administration's recent disbursement of funds for the procurement of HIV testing kits to enable testing of over 200,000 people across the state.
Governor Inuwa then expressed gratitude to supporting agencies by paying this accolade to the following State establishments:
"let me appreciate the contributions of our State Government’s HIV/AIDS Coordinating organ (GomSACA), our Implementing Partners; the State STI/AIDS Control Programme (SASCP), the Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), Center for integrated Health Programme, Network of People Living With HIV and AIDS (NEPWHAN), UNICEF, Society for Family Health (SFH) and our numerous CBOs. We remain grateful for the positive impact you have made so far".
While urging all partners in this fight not to relent and keep building on the current momentum in the drive to defeat the debilitating Virus, he warned that the fight only ends when Zero prevalence is successfully achieved in Gombe State. He further disclosed the determination of his administration to align it's activities at par with the 2021 World AIDS Day the theme of which will be: “END INEQUALITIES. END AIDS. END PANDEMICS.”
In echoing the alarm, as well as the urgency of the resurging rate of prevalence of the AIDS Pandemic, drawing attention to the continuing unfortunate loss of precious lives on minute-by-minute basis, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa equally stressed the imperativeness of continuing to target all strategic key populations across communities in Gombe State with HIV/AIDS Control activities.
Mato Adamu Media Consultant to the Governor
