Taraba Govt, RISE Begin Move To End HIV/AIDS By 2030

The Taraba state government through the Taraba state AIDS control agency (TACA), in partnership with RISE Nigeria, with the support from USAID on Friday inaugurated a special media team to assist sensitize citizens on HIV/AIDS to meet the UN target of ending the virus by 2030.

Dr. Garba Danjuma, the Director General of the agency noted at the event that the idea was to boost the agency’s level of awareness on HIV/AIDS to the people and ensure the unborn children of positive mothers are born negative.

According to him, the HIV free society in the state by 2030 was the agency’s aim and believe the media role of educating the people was key to driving the idea to reality.

“Your inauguration today as, Taraba State HIV/AIDS Media Advocacy Team (THAMAT), is to help us sensitize the pregnant women to always go for antenatal care where they can be tested free for HIV and ensure the unborn child is born HIV free even if the mother is positive.

“This awareness should also reach to the people we call (the key population), this are sex workers, we want them to get adequte knowledge on how to prevent the virus.

“The media is a critical stakeholders in the HIV and AIDS response in Nigeria. Your role as aganda setting, informing the public and entertainment is very key for any sector of development for a nation and we believe that you can help us actualize the dream of ending HIV/AIDS by 2030,” the DG expressed.

Earlier, Dr Joseph chiegil the team leader of the Reaching Impact, and Saturation Epidemic Control (RISE Nigeria), said RISE was partnering TACA to ensure the actualization of eliminating HIV/AIDS by 2030.

He disclosed that, RISE was partnering the agency on HIV counseling and testing services, HIV care and treatment services, Viral load services, Robust monitoring evaluation and learning system as well as Health system strengthening to ensure possible elimination of the virus.