Coker
said this in Abeokuta at a press conference on the 2020 World AIDS Day
with the theme “United to end AIDS in the midst of COVID – 19.”
The
Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Hospital
Management Board, Dr Nafiu Aigoro, said the patients have been placed on
Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) to keep the HIV under control.
According to her, Ogun has prevalence rate of 1.6 percent, placing the state on the ladder in Southwest.
She said HIV prevalence rate in other states include, Lagos – 1.4%; Ondo – 1.1%; Oyo – 0.9% and Osun with 0.9%.
The
Commissioner attributed drivers of the HIV epidemic in the state to
poverty, low literacy level, stigma and discrimination, low political
will, low use of condom and risky sexual behaviour.
She
also blamed the prevalence on the state’s proximity to the
international borders as well as the influx of people into the state
from Lagos and other states for commercial purposes.
Coker
said “The first case of HIV and AIDS in Ogun State was reported in
1990. In 1999, when the first HIV/AIDS zero-prevalence sentinel survey
was carried out the prevalence rate was 2.5 percent.
“In
2001, it rose to 3.5 percent and recorded a drop in 2003 to 1.5 percent
and a rise again to 3.6 percent in 2005. In 2008, it dropped to 1.7
percent in 2010, it was 3.1 percent, in 2012 (NARHS) the prevalence was
2.9 percent.
“Ogun State
presently has a prevalence rate of 1.6 percent (NAIIS 2018). This is
noted to be above the national prevalence (1.4percent) and is also the
highest in the Southwest.”
She
added that despite the COVID – 19 pandemic, “49,211 persons have been
counselled, tested and given results out of which 105 were tested
positive.”
The
Commissioner vowed that the state would not allow fight against COVID –
19 to overshadow the effort to get rid of the HIV/AIDS, saying the
facilities providing HIV Testing services (HTS) in the State have been
severally increased from 86 in 2014 to 431 sites.
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