19,396 Test HIV Positive In Niger

19,396 Test HIV Positive In Niger
Abu Nmodu
— Dec 1, 2015 11:07 am | Leave a comment
Niger State government has stated that cumulatively, for 2015, a total number of 177,988 people were counseled and tested for HIV/AIDS out of which 19,396 were found positive.
Speaking to journalists at a news conference yesterday in Minna , to mark the World AIDS Day, the permanent secretary state Ministry of Health, Dr Ibrahim Tiffin said , currently 15,444 people are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment in Niger State to date.
He stated that the prevalence of HIV in Niger State has decreased from 4.0 per cent to 1.7 per cent, which is below the national average of 3.0 per cent and lowest in north central zone.
According to him the statistic was based on 2014 Zero ANC prevalence survey, adding that the state agencies for the control of AIDS has been repositioned for better service delivery.
He stated that the state has developed state HIV operational plan from 2015 to 2016 while scaled up plan for elimination of mother to child transmission of the disease has been developed through activation of 36 primary health care facilities in the state.
The permanent secretary also disclosed that continuous supply of test kits and commodities to 310 existing prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS have been sustained as pregnant women who attend antenatal care are often counseled and tested.