By Sani Adamu Hassan
The Bauchi State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam, has reaffirmed the state’s commitment to combating HIV/AIDS as the global community commemorates World AIDS Day 2024.
Speaking at a press conference in Bauchi. Dambam highlighted the theme for this year, “Take the Right Path: Sustain HIV Response and Stop HIV Among Children,” and underscored the need for sustained efforts to address the disease’s impact on individuals and society.
The Commissioner noted the significant progress made in controlling HIV/AIDS in Bauchi State, with prevalence rates dropping from 6.8% in 2001 to 0.4% in 2018 according to the National AIDS Indicator Survey, while attributing these achievements to collaborative efforts by the state government, international partners, and civil society organizations.
Dr Sani Dambam emphasized that despite these milestones, the state continues to face challenges, particularly with new infections linked to population influxes from neighboring regions.
He therefore outlined the state’s strategic interventions, such as providing HIV testing services, implementing a compulsory genotype and HIV test law for couples before marriage, and recruiting mentor mothers to create awareness and link pregnant women to healthcare facilities.
He praised the role of the National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Program (NASCP) in supporting these efforts through the provision of medical personnel, test kits, and grants.
The Commissioner revealed that Bauchi State currently has 27,381 people on antiretroviral therapy (ART), with 87% of pregnant women attending antenatal care being tested for HIV, while lauded the active participation of implementing partners like GGHN, SFH, and PHI in supporting key populations, pediatric ART, and general healthcare services.
Dr Dambam therefore expressed gratitude to Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for his unwavering support for the health sector and for creating an enabling environment for effective HIV interventions, while acknowledging the contributions of lawmakers, traditional and religious leaders, media practitioners, youth, and advocacy groups in the collective fight against the disease.
In conclusion, the Commissioner called on all stakeholders to renew their commitment to ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. He urged the public to support those living with HIV and work towards a society where everyone has access to quality healthcare and lives with dignity.
