The Anambra state Commissioner for Health Dr. Vincent Okpala says the State government is committed to ending mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS before the end of 2022.
Dr. Okpala made this known when the United Nations Joint Programme on Aids, UNAIDS, representatives of the Federal government and UNICEF paid him a courtesy call in Awka.
Addressing his visitors whose visit was to know how far the State government has gone in prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS in the State, Dr. Okpala said that it is the goal of the Obiano led administration to eliminate mother to child transmission of the disease before the end of next year.
The Commissioner noted that Anambra State has both the infrastructure and willingness to achieve the objective, as there is high utilization of healthcare facilities in the State by pregnant women which will help to eliminate the transmission of the disease in Anambra State.
The National Coordinator, National Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Dr. Akudo Ikpeazu who said that the State has a great opportunity to drive the message of elimination of mother to child transmission home, as most pregnant women access healthcare services often in the State, appealed to the wife of the Governor of Anambra state, Dr. Ebelechukwu Obiano to act as ambassador of the project for it to work seamlessly.
According to Dr. Richard Amenya from Ghana who is a Fast Track Adviser to UNAIDS, their mission aligns with the political objective of Anambra state government to ensure that no baby is born HIV positive in the State this year.
The Anambra state programme Coordinator of HIV/Aids, Dr Cyril Afam-Anieme revealed that there are about five thousand pregnant women living with HIV in the State, even as about thirty five thousand residents of the state are equally living with the disease and noted that the State will continue to work towards eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS.
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