World Bank disburses N69m to NGOs in Zamfara

December 29, 2006 :: Vanguard,Lagos

The World Bank has disbursed N69 million to 22 NGOs working on the control and prevention of HIV/AIDS in Zamfara State. Presenting the cheque to beneficiaries in Gusau the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mamuda Aliyu, said the grant would go a long way in assisting the NGOs to carry out their activities effectively. He said with the disbursement of the funds, the NGOs and other community based organisations were expected to take their campaigns against the scourge to the remote areas in the state. "Government alone can not stem the spread of the disease that is why NGOs are involved to complement its efforts", he said. Aliyu explained that the government played a significant role in the crusade by making it mandatory in all government health institutions and private clinics in the state that all blood and blood related products be screened before transfusion. He noted that the state had lower prevalence of HIV/AIDS compared with other states because of its poverty alleviation programme and sharia's implementation. In his remarks, the Health Commissioner, Dr Bello Buzu, said although the state had the least HIV/AIDS prevalence, it had the highest number of NGOs supporting the fight against the scourge.