About 11, 404 persons are currently receiving HIV/AIDS treatment in Katsina State as at October this year, Governor Aminu Bello Masari has said.
Masari while speaking during the disbursement of the 3rd trench of HIV/AIDS fund grant to civil society organizations, said the state has witnessed steady decline HIV prevalence rate from 3.5% in 2001 to 0.7% in 2012.
Masari who spoke through secretary to the state government, Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, said his administration was committed to ensuring that HIV/AIDS intervention got deserved attention.
He said the state government has approved funds for the procurement of reagents for screening tests “before commencement and during follow up of treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS in the state”.
Masari said government had presented an executive bill against stigma and discrimination to the state assembly so as to protect people living with the disease.
He stressed that government has approved the disbursement of N53 million to 22 civil society organization to enhance community interventions in local government areas.
Earlier in an address, the executive secretary of Katsina State Agency for the Control of Aids, Dr Muntari Kankia said the state currently has 20 anti retro viral treatment (ART) sites and 79 prevention of mother to child transmission sites.
Dr Kankia said that the trend of HIV/AIDS status in the state has drastically reduced.
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