5,000 to benefit from free HIV-test in Zamfara

The National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) says more than 5,000 people have been targeted to benefit under its free HIV-test programme in the state under a national free medical outreach.

Mr Muhammad Haruna, the Project Manager of NACA, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking at the flag-off of the programme in Nahuche village, Bungudu local government area of the state.

Haruna noted that the programme was part of the federal government commitment to ensure HIV/AIDS reduction and control among Nigerians.

He said 20 medical doctors and 40 nurses as well as other health workers were deployed in collaboration with the State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA) for the four days programme which would end on Friday.

"During the outreach programme people are expected to undergo free medical test on HIV status and general checkup on other major diseases such as diabetes, malaria and hypertension, among others".

In his remark, the Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru, commended NACA and SACA for selecting his emirate to conduct the exercise, which he described as "welcome development".

Attahiru noted that based on the efforts made by the federal government and effective cooperation given by the state government, the country recorded massive reduction on HIV disease in the country.

He therefore called on the entire people of the emirate and the state at large to massively participate in the exercise so as to benefit from the opportunity.

Earlier, Dr Habib Yelwa, the Director Public Health Services of the state's Ministry of Health, noted that the support given to the activities of the campaign against AIDS by the state government, NACA and NGOs in the state had reduced HIV prevalence in the country.

Yelwa put the state's HIV prevalence rate at 0.4 per cent.