Bayelsa vows to eradicate HIV/AIDS

June 27, 2006

Bayelsa State Government has expressed its determination to fight the spread of the HIV/AIDS scourge.

Governor Goodluck Jonathan stated this when the Manager, Community Health of Shell Petroleum Development Company, Doctor Babatunde Fakunle paid him a courtesy visit in Government House.

Jonathan who highlighted measures aimed at stemming the spread of the disease said government has unveiled the Bayelsa State branded retroviral drugs, self-test kits as well as printed books to be used for schools debate and booklets containing information on HIV/AIDS.

According to Jonathan, the state government is also to launch the Three Arms Walk programme which the former President of Kenya, Kenneth Kaunda and the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan are expected to attend.

The governor also lauded the efforts of a pharmaceutical company based in the United States of America NIDEL Company, a Niger Delta to open a world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the state.

One of the Managing Directors of NIDEL, Dr. Authur Wariboko had earlier made presentations to the governor and called on the government to assist the company with the provision of land, electricity and access road to the facility.

Earlier in his speech, the Manager of Community Health, SPDC, Dr. Babatunde Fakunle, had explained that SPDC is to establish the Niger Delta Center for life, which according to him would be an integrated multi-function center to tackle HIV/AIDS and other ailments.

Fakunle noted that the center would serve as a center for referral from other areas as well as provide the best laboratory with mobile facilities.

The center when established would also undertake training of personnel, improve capacity building and establish a research center.

ThisDay,Nigeria