374,000 Residents Of Kano State Are HIV-Positive

There ​are more than 374,000 people living with HIV infection in Kano state and only 106,000 of them are registered.

Nuhu Gaya, the chairman of the Association of Peoples Living with HIV/AIDS, reported on the deplorable situation in the state during his courtesy call to Abdullahi Ganduje, the Kano state governor.

He also esxpressed great concern over increasing epidemic proportions and lack of support from the state government, especially after the World Health Organization and other international donor agencies’ projects were rounded off.

The chairman noted that HIV-infected people are struggling to survive as they often face rejection, discrimination and stigmatization in the state. Some of them died either due to lack of medicine, absence of diagnosis or misdiagnosis.

Besides, Mr Gaya asked to appoint an aide to address the complaints of people living with HIV. In his response, the governor assured him of support and promised that government would look into their demands.

In May last year Bilali Camara, the country director, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, said that Nigeria requires $1,2bn (N239,1 trillion) for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.

According to Mr. Camara, the foreign donors provide $600,000 (N118,3 million), which represents 50 per cent of the funds required for the treatment programme, while Nigeria provides 25 per cent of the funds required.