By Ishaq Hardawa
The Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria NEPWHAN Bauchi State Chapter has expressed concern over the rising cases of the disease in the State.
The State Coordinator of the Network Abdullahi Ibrahim who made this known in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Bauchi said from March, 2024 to January, 2025
over 40 pregnant women have been tested positive of HIV/AIDS across the State.
“the prevention of mother to child transmission programme that we are conducting in the state is only for women. These women have husbands, no woman can get pregnant without husband, so we tested only the women what of the husbands and other co-wives because most of us are polygamous”.
Abdullahi Ibrahim therefore appealed to the State Government to revive the resource mobilization committee to sustain the donours’ funded programme in the state.
“you see from January, 2025 to date 20 new HIV/AIDS infections were recorded, so if one looks at that situation the danger involved is very high as there is no drugs in the facilities, not to talk of Viral load test, chemistry hematology test and consultant fees ” Abdullahi decried.
He said the appeal become necessary in view of the recent executive order signed by the US President Donald Trump suspending USAID activities and President’s Emergency plan for AIDS Relief across the Globe.
The State Coordinator said an urgent intervention is required to ensure that the supply of the HIV lifesaving medicines did not stop.
” Currently the prevalence of the disease in the state is at 0.4% but anything can trigger the escalation. The treatment is a chain whereby you can continue turning it, because the moment it’s cut the devastating effect is going to be very difficult for the government to manage” He explained.
According to him some facilities have begin to go out of drugs which if not addressed would undermine the progress achieved in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV and severe health complications.
” these drugs are there in town there are stocked already, is one of the things that the government should have discussed with the USAID to give out the drugs to dispense to facilities. The drugs are still under lock and key ” The Coordinating Minister of Health has done very well, he really showed care to people living with HIV/ AIDS” The Coordinator noted.
Abdullahi Ibrahim also used the medium to call on the state government to enroll people living with HIV and AIDS into the State Health Contributory Management Agency to ease their difficulties in affording some drugs.
According to the State Coordinator there is need for the state and local government to look into the possibility of employing adhoc staff that worked with the USAID for the treatment and care of the people living with the disease for seamless transition and operations.
“these adhoc staff that they are disengaged their faith now are tide at volunteerism and how long is this going to take for them to last, I think the better is for them to be absorbed or in the mean time they should have a package to support them…” He suggested.
On her part the Chairperson Association of women living with HIV and AIDS Juwairiyya Abubakar said the shortage of anti retroviral drugs would force some positive people to resort to the use of traditional medicine which is harmful to their health and appealed to Governor Bala Muhammad to come to their aid.
Juwairiyya Abubakar appealed to the federal government to take the burden from where USAID stopped and bring relief to people living with HIV and AIDS.
” may be through that Nigerians can be independent because we have the resources but if necessary measures are not taken our people will suffer for it.” She said.
Also speaking the State Coordinator Association of Positive Youth Living with HIV and AIDS Sajida Suleman expressed dismay that, new cases are being recorded in the state.
” the US Executive Order has affected us because we the youth are coming up now we are not working, if we are to buy HIV drugs we don’t have the means, so we are calling for the government to intervene…..” Sajida appealed.
Radio Nigeria gathered that Bauchi has an approximate number between of 22 to 25 thousand people living with HIV and AIDS across the state.
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