The Taraba State Government on Sunday said 77 persons tested HIV-positive out of 2,156 tested during the ongoing mass testing and treatment to ensure an HIV-free society by 2030.
The News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Director-General, Taraba State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Garba Danjuma, as disclosing this during the agency’s weekly review performance of the implementation by partners working across HIV, tuberculosis, Orphans and Vulnerable Children.
Danjuma noted that 36,396 victims of HIV in the state are already under regular treatment while 20,200 others had been virally suppressed.
He said, “It is our hope that the name HIV should not be found in Taraba State by 2030.
“During our mass testing and treatment project over the weekend, only 77 persons were confirmed positive for the virus out of 2,156 tested across 16 local government areas of the state.
“We tested 359 children of between 0-14 years old.
“76 out of the 77 victims have already been linked for treatment with various health facilities across the state.”
Team leader, Reaching Impact and Saturation Epidemic Control, which is partnering with TACA, Dr Joseph Chiegil, commended the state government for the steps being taken to ensure the elimination of HIV/AIDs by 2030.
He pledged his organisation’s continuous support to ensure the agency succeeds in its drive to kick out HIV.
