ONDO BEGINS MOBILE HIV COUNSELLING AND TESTING IN RURAL AREAS
...Targets 1million residents
In its drive to further reduce the spread of HIV, the Ondo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ODSACA) in collaboration with the Local Action Committee on AIDS in the state has flagged off mobile HIV counselling and testing service among rural dwellers in Akoko North East and Akoko North West local governments, just as it begins training of Community Volunteers in Ilaje, Ondo East and Idanre local government areas of the state.
Addressing the participants, the Secretary to the State Government and Chairman, Ondo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ODSACA), Dr. Aderotimi Adelola, who was represented by the Project Manager, Dr. ‘Dayo Adegbulu, stated that the initiative is to enable Community Volunteers carry out HIV counseling and testing on one million people in Ondo State and as such the Local Action Committee on AIDS at various local government have been empowered by the Ondo State government with the support of World Bank.
He noted that the government is putting in place structures at the grassroots to increase the people’s access to free HIV counseling and testing, stressing that the drive will ensure zero HIV new infection, zero discrimination and stigmatization, zero to HIV related deaths, among others.
Adelola also appreciated the local governments for supporting the programme, noting that over 3 million Nigerians are living with HIV, while over 40,000 residents in Ondo are living with the virus, hence the need to embrace aggressive preventive measure to prevent the scourge.
Similarly, the Secretary to the State Government called on the Community Volunteers being trained in Ilaje, Ondo East and Idanre local governments to own and sustain the programme by providing HIV services to the rural dwellers where they live, work and play. He appealed to every individual to take an HIV test which is the entry point for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
Flagging off the initiative in Akoko North East, the Caretaker Chairman, Mr. Bamidele Bada, who was voluntarily tested, enjoined everyone to get tested at no cost, know their HIV status, and that HIV is not a death sentence but can be adequately managed, stressing that all leaders at different levels should key into the programme and encourage the people to get tested, so as to reduce spread of the virus in their localities.
Also speaking, the Caretaker Chairman of Akoko North West, Mr. Sesan Kumuyi, represented by the Supervisor for Health in the local government, Mr. Ismeil Mukaila, appreciated the Mimiko administration for supporting the programme, assuring that the people will turn out massively for the programme.
Corroborating their views, the Community Mobilisation Officer, ODSACA, Mrs. Funmilade Akinrelere, maintained that adequate counseling and early detection is a panacea to AIDS related death, in order to sustain the society and promote healthy living among the people, particularly the rural dwellers
Reacting the Managers, Local Action Committee on AIDS (LACA), Akoko North East, local government, Mrs. Alice Momoh and North West local government, Mr. Folusho Awe, observed that the programme is targeted at equipping the peoples’ knowledge about HIV/AIDS, prevention of mother to child transmission, treatment and care for people living with HIVV/AIDS, and others. They called on the people to cooperate with the Community Volunteers in order to safeguard and improve their health.
Likewise, the LACA Manager, Ilaje local government, Mrs. Cecilia Dunapo and LACA Manager, Ondo East local government, Mrs. Oluremi Oluwatuyi said the programme will acquit participants with prevention - intervention strategies that will prevent HIV transmission, create demand for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV; while the LACA Manager, Idanre local government, Mrs Grace Adenuoye implored the Volunteers that were carefully selected from their wards to see their duty as a social responsibility and humanitarian service which is targeted at benefiting every member of the society.


Ayokunle Ikusemiju,
Press Officer,
Office of the SSG