Agency Offers Free HIV/AIDS Tests In Bauchi

As part of activities to mark this year’s World AIDS Day, the Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS Tuberculosis Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) with support from Breakthrough Action Nigeria has screened over 500 residents of Bununu, Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi State on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. 

Our correspondent reports that the beneficiaries were also screened for ailments such as Hepatitis and Malaria for timely medication for patients to control spread of the diseases among people. 

Addressing beneficiaries yesterday at Bununu Primary Healthcare Centre, the executive chairman of BACATMA, Dr Sani Muhammad Dambam, said the exercise is aimed at reducing the burden of preventable communicable diseases in the state. 

According to him, through various strategies coupled with support from world donors, Bauchi State is on course to achieving a free HIV/AIDS status nearly two decades after a national survey indicated that the state accounts for the highest national burden of HIV/AIDS. 

He said a similar exercise was going on simultaneously across the state, calling on people to endure and complete the screening. 

Dr Dambam commended the continued support of global donor agencies towards addressing the burden of HIV/AIDS in the state. 

Some of the beneficiaries who turned up for the medical screening as early as 8am expressed the determination to patiently wait for their turns to undergo the screening exercise. 

A middle-aged mother, Nabilatu Abdullahi, who brought her child, trekked from her community about five kilometres away from the venue of the exercise to partake in the screening. 

“I brought myself and the child to undergo the medical screening. My child is here for a tuberculosis test,” she said.