AIDS cases in Gombe drops-Goje

September 20, 2006 :: Segun Awofadeji,Gombe ThisDay

The Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Danjuma Goje has disclosed that the rate of HIV/AIDS prevalence in the state has dropped from 8.2 percent to 4.9 percent within the last 10 years. Disclosing this while signing the Programme Implementation Agreement with UNICEF in Gombe, the governor stated that the reduction in the prevalence of the deadly disease was as a result of the collaborative efforts of the State Government and UNICEF in the fight against its spread within the society. Goje stated that quite a number of women and pregnant mothers have developed the habit of visiting the State Specialist Hospital and Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gombe to know their HIV status, attributing this to the massive enlightenment campaign and mobilization being undertaken jointly by the state government and UNICEF. The governor therefore commended UNICEF for its efforts towards making the prevention of mother to child transmission of the disease, especially HIV/AIDS a huge success, noting that the reduction of the disease in the society was a collective responsibility of all and sundry. He disclosed that his government,has ,paid more than N70m as counterpart funding for all UNICEF-assisted programmes in the state, explaining that out of the amount, N30m was paid last year and N43m this year. Speaking earlier, the Assistant Country Representative of UNICEF, Alhaji Mohammed Jallo commended Goje for his efforts in healthcare delivery services, saying UNICEF was impressed by the prompt response of the government in the payment of its counterpart funding. Jallo who also praised the state government for its commitment in the fight against the scourge of the HIV/AIDS in the state, called on the people to continue to support and cooperate with the government and UNICEF in their joint battle against the deadly disease and other diseases in the state.