By Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has declared that by 2022, precisely in the next 18 months, HIV and AIDS prevalence should be under control in Nigeria.
The Director General of the agency, Dr Aliyu Gambo stated this while presenting starter kits to 180 people living with the disease on Friday at the Gumel area council in Jigawa State.
The beneficiaries are basically trained HIV/AIDS people in Jigawa state that were grilled on six income generating trades in order to become self reliant.
According to the DG, the beneficiaries were drawn from the 27 local government areas of the state and have received intensive trainings in Plaster of Paris (POP), painting, interlock, barbing, confectionery and hair dressing, comprises men women.
Gambo further explained that the gesture was to enable them become self reliant and employers of labour.
The Director General added that, the agency had provided drugs and other medical supports to people living with HIV.
He further urged them to use the starter kits judiciously and contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of their community, the state and nation at large.
Dr Aliyu commended Governor Badaru Abubakar of jigawa state for responding to the agency’s need for collaboration, which led to the empowerment exercise.
The DG however appealed for assistance in the fight against the disease by identifying people living with HIV, in order to place them on drugs.
In his remarks, Governor Badaru Abubakar who was represented by Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Aminu Usman Gumel, commended the agency for the gesture.
He urged the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the items to achieve desired goals.
Badaru further explained that, the state government was working towards bringing the disease under control by providing drugs and test centres at its health facilities.
He said the state government and traditional institutions were creating awareness among people about the disease, prevention and medication.
Also speaking, the state Project Manager of State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), Alhaji Ibrahim Almajiri, acknowledged that the programme was initiated to support people living with HIV towards self-reliance.
