Kano Govt identifies 4,274 new HIV/AIDS infections
The Kano State government says it identified 4,274 HIV/AIDS infections in the state within the last year.
Dr Labaran Yusuf, the state’s Commissioner for Health, stated this at a press conference to commemorate the 2024 World AIDS Day.
Yusuf said the results were obtained after conducting free HIV test for 326,831 people in 592 primary healthcare centres, 43 public secondary facilities, and some selected private facilities across the state.
He said all the identified patients had been initiated on Antiretroviral Treatment(ART), raising the current number of patients receiving treatment in the state to 32,684.
The commissioner said that to reduce the spread of the disease, the state had enacted the pre-marital screening law, which made it compulsory for couples to screen for HIV, Sickle Cell and Genotype, among others, before marriage, adding that three per cent of its total health budget for 2024 was allocated to the state AIDS agency for HIV Initiatives.
While reiterating the state’s commitment to ensuring access to quality healthcare services, including HIV prevention, treatment, and care without discrimination, Yusuf said that the ministry would continue to strengthen supply systems, improve access to HIV testing and treatment, promote awareness and as healthy end mother-to-child transmission.
“In line with this year`s World AIDS Day objectives one and four, we have enrolled over 600 Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and 2200 People Living with HIV (PLHIV) under our state contributory healthcare scheme to ensure they have access to healthcare services without out-of-pocket expenses, these were covered by the Kano State Health Trust Fund through the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency and supported by our partner LHSS, another set of 2500 are being processed for enrollment.
“As we commemorate World AIDS Day 2024, we renew our commitment to ‘Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right!’ and call on everyone to join us in this fight. We must continue to advocate for those affected, fight against stigma and discrimination, and ensure universal access to prevention, treatment, care, and support,” the commissioner added.
