Inadequate funding, others affecting Adamawa’s fight against epidemic

Mr Stephen John, the Executive Secretary of Adamawa State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (ADSACA) , said inadequate funding was seriously affecting its smooth operations.

John told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Yola also said that the state had not paid its counterpart fund since 2012.

He said that, "Due to poor financing of ADSACA by the government, the Agency has not been able to carry out its core responsibilities for the past few years.

" Most of the activities being implemented presently are funded through funds from the World Bank.

" These activities mainly target mostly, those populations that are at the risk of HIV.

"The activities are being implemented by 20 community based organisations (CBOs), four line ministries and Local Action Committee on AIDS in the 21 local government areas."

John listed other challenges affecting the agency to include: lack of functional project vehicles, inadequate trained health workers and HIV Rapid Testing kits.

He also listed the Boko Haram crisis as another major challenge affecting its operations, particularly, in northern part of the state.

"The activities of insurgents in the northern part of the state has not only led to destruction of health facilities and records of people living with the HIV/AIDS in the affected areas.

"But, it has also led to the displacement of many HIV/AIDS’ clients in the affected areas", John said.