Obasanjo orders employment of 100 medical personnel for HIV programme

March 9, 2007 :: Kingsley Omonobi, Vanguard, Abuja Vanguard,Lagos

Against the backdrop of the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS scourge within the Nigerian military, President Olusegun Obasanjo has ordered the special employment of 100 medical personnel to help solve the manpower constraint of the Ministry of Defence HIV programme. Making the disclosure at the opening of a three day HIV Strategic Planning Conference in Abuja yesterday, Minister of state for Defence, Chief Mike Onolememen noted that the scope of the programme which is the provision of treatment for military personnel had been expanded to include a wide range of preventive services and that it is proving very tasking hence the presidential order. His words, "Our joint programme on HIV/AIDS with the US department of defence commenced in April 2005 and has grown both in terms of capacity building, provision of services and areas of coverage. The programme has since trained 20 physicians, 30 nurses, 4 pharmacists and 6 laboratory scientists, locally and abroad" "The number of programme sites has grown from 4 in 2005 to 10 by the end of 2006. The programme has so far met and in some cases exceeded its targets. Though its main focus was to provide treatment, it has recently expanded its scope to offer a wide range of preventive services." "The availability of free laboratory services and anti-retroviral drugs under this and other similar programmes, which not only prolong life for people infected with HIV but also improve their quality of life, has dramatically changed the perception of HIV/AIDS in the entire population" "Apart from providing prevention, treatment and care services, our joint programme is moving rapidly into prevention and treatment related research using the skilled personnel and specialized equipment that are available under the programme." http://allafrica.com/stories/200703060079.html