USAID donates 74,600 HIV/AIDS capacity test kits of Belemaoil to Akwa Ibom

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard has said that the number of people receiving lifesaving HIV treatment in Akwa Ibom state has increased from 19 percent to 82 percent, with 35,000 people in 2019 to over 156,000 in 2021.

She made this disclosure during the handover ceremony of 74,600 HIV/AIDS capacity test kits to the Akwa Ibom State Government at Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, in the state capital Wednesday.

The test kits donated by Belemaoil to support USAID’S HIV/AIDS eradication in Akwa Ibom was received by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem on behalf of the state government.

Leonard said she was delighted to celebrate the strides achieved by the Akwa Ibom State Government in the last two years to control the spread of HIV/AIDS.

She stated that the contributions of Belemaoil to USAID shows the importance of the private sector in partnering to curb the disease, saying the collaboration of the state government and other agencies have greatly helped the course.

“The test kits, with a testing capacity of 74,600, will support prevention of mother-to-child transmission services within antenatal clinics and provide critical HIV testing services to numerous young children and others who are at risk.

“Even with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Akwa Ibom with the support of USAID has made remarkable progress in its efforts to eradicate the epidemic.

In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem said the State Governor was committed to the health of its citizens and does not allow Akwa Ibomites to treat HIV/AIDS with levity.

Ekuwem said, if everyone were to take HIV/AIDS as serious as COVID-19, the disease would have been decimated, adding that the 80 per cent rate of infection of the disease was high.

He stated that the many cases of HIV/AIDS infection was found among those living along the shorelines of the state as it is a transit for many people from other countries into the state.

He said the government was taking what happens at the shore of the state seriously to reduce the surge and called on the people to do same.

He emphasized that the state government will continue to partner with USAID and its partners and commended USAID for the donation of the test kits.

“The Governor of Akwa Ibom State knows that without a healthy population, there can be no socio-economic development and growth. He is very convinced which is why as soon as he assumed office as Governor, he remodeled hospitals remaining about two, one in Ikot Abasi and Ikot Ekpene that is being tidied up now.

“He promised that in one of every federal constituency, there will be one very well equipped and very well manned general hospital and he is working assiduously at having the University Teaching Hospital which is going to be part of the Faculty of Medicine, Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU).

“HIV/AIDS disease will remain with us. Nobody should treat this malady with levity, it is as serious as it is. There should be no superstitions about it and all hands should be on deck to make sure that this malady is tamed,” he stated.

Earlier, the Deputy Managing Director of Belemaoil, Mr Collins Amadi, said the donation from the company was part of its efforts to support and continue the fight against HIV/AIDS in the state and across the Niger Delta.

Amadi said the company was delighted to form the partnership with USAID which aims at advancing the control method of HIV infection in the state, the Niger Delta and the country in general.

He expressed the hoped that the partnership with USAID will achieve the desired objective and galvanise the consciousness of the private sector to support related programmes that will engender a healthy society.

“As a young, indigenous, oil producing company, we consider it a privilege to be part of the global effort to combat the scourge of HIV/AIDS in the area of early prevention which can degenerate to an advanced stage if not addressed at an early stage.

“The Belemaoil”s model is anchored on the principle of mutual wealth creation. We prioritize the health care needs and exponential of our people is very key and vital to achieving the much needed wealth and prosperity for our host communities and other communities in the Niger Delta, and Nigeria in general,” he said.