Wife of Abia State governor, Priscilla Otti has distributed N50,000 and one 25kg bag of rice each to 300 chapters of Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, and the key population group in the state.
Mrs Otti stated this at a meeting with the chapters at her residence in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South local government area, noting her resolve to provide hope for people living with HIV/AIDS in the state.
She expressed delight that being HIV positive is not a death sentence as held in some quarters and urged those living with it to embrace treatment while rejecting societal judgment.
“I am encouraged by the progress we are making to suppress the spread of the virus, but we must do more to prevent new infections and ensure a stigma-free society.
“This administration is dedicated to supporting every group in the state, including those living with HIV/AIDS to receive all the medical attention they required,” she assured them.
The first lady also announced plans to collaborate with key stakeholders to domesticate laws prohibiting discrimination and stigmatisation of people living with HIV/AIDS in the state.
She called on women and youths engaged in commercial sex work to seek alternative opportunities, promising to initiate skill acquisition programmes to empower and uplift them.
In a remark, Uloaku Emma-Ukegbu, director general of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS, said the agency’s commitment to eradicating stigma is a critical step in achieving zero new infections in the state.
Emma-Ukegbu, who explained that 46,788 people living with HIV/AIDS in the state are currently undergoing treatment, noted the importance of their adherence to their medication.
In their respective responses representatives of the network and the group including the national secretary, Joseph Anosike and the state coordinator, Agbai Okali, expressed gratitude to Mrs. Otti.
They emphasized the importance of sustainable support, including job creation and continuous sensitization, in addressing the root causes of vulnerability and controlling the virus.
