ENIN CITY – Edo State government has assured of its commitment in view of partnering with the Edo State Action Committee on Aids (SACA) in its drive towards mitigating the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Edo state Ministry of Communication and Orientation, Mr. Joses Sede gave the assurance when he played host to the team of SACA who were on a courtesy visit to the Ministry yesterday in Benin city.
Sede who underscored the need for people to always avail themselves for HIV test, said though m there was yet to discover a permanent medical cure for the disease, there was need to mitigate its spread.
Noting that a problem identified is a problem half solved, the P.S enjoined the people to avail themselves come 27 June, 2021 for this year’s National HIV Testing Day, asserting that early detection of the virus was apt for the purpose of early treatment.
While appraising SACA’s roles towards cushioning the spread of HIV disease in the society, which he said were in line with the state governor, Godwin Obaseki’s vision of making Edo state great again, Joses said the present administration was committed towards restoring the dignity of the state, hence the Make Edo State Great Again ( MEGA).
Acknowledging that Edo State had always been rated top since Midwest era, the PS charged the good people of Edo State on the need to strengthen their cooperation with the state governor towards moving the state to enviable height.
Earlier, Executive Director, Edo State Action Committee on Aids (SACA), Mrs. Flora Oyakhilome said the visit became apt because of the need for collaboration among stakeholders towards creating the necessary advocacy/ awareness on issues relating to HIV.
Mrs. Oyakhilome who viewed such visit as an avenue to also sensitized the people on the need for them to always go for early test with a view to knowing their status, appealed for collaboration to enable SACA succeed in its drive.
She disclosed that the national HIV free test day which began in 1983 will take place on June 27’2021 and called on the people take advantage of the opportunity for the purpose of knowing their status early.
She thanked the PS for granting them audience to acquaint the Ministry with SACA’s activities in the state and appealed for continuous collaboration.
Also, the state coordinator, Civil Society For HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria, Saliu Aidorolo, described the visit as apt pointing out that information management was key as regards the activities of SACA hence the visit.
Aidorolo who aknowledged governor Obaseki’s developmental strides scatered across all sectors of economy in the state, used the opportunity to appeal the governor for support to enable SACA succeed.
