94,000 pregnant women HIV positive in Zamfara – NGO

At the end of a seven-year treatment and support rolling plan for those living with HIV in the state in Gusau on Thursday, The team leader of the organization, Mr Aminu Sarki, said No fewer than 94,141 pregnant women are  HIV/AIDS positive in Zamfara, and  A United States Agency for International Aids (USAID) funded programme said this through Management Services for Health Organisation the USAID Prevention and Organizational Systems-AIDS Care and Treatment (PRO-ACT), and more than 500 women living with HIV received anti-retroviral drugs in the state during the period. He said 4,436 persons living with HIV in the state were cared for by his organization explaining that the project was aimed at strengthening the capacity of the country’s public, private and community sectors for sustainable HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevention, control, care and treatment within the health system.
He also said his organization had succeeded in providing services at four comprehensive care and treatment sites as well as trained health personnel in 19 Management Sciences for Health (MSH) supported facilities in injection, safety and waste management, and as the project was winding up in the state by November, there was need for the state government to take over and continue in order to eliminate HIV in the state.

While applauding the services rendered by the organisation in the state, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi, assured that the state government would soon study and takeover in order to sustain the programme. The project was conducted in the five states of Niger, Kwara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara. Highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the programme participants.