RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITS TO ZERO TRANSMISSION OF HIV

The Rivers State Government has reiterated its commitment to ensure zero transmission of HIV/ Aids and to ensure optimal health care for those already living with the virus.

Rivers State Deputy Governor Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo stated this during an advocacy visit by a delegation of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDs (NEPWHAN) and the Country Coordinating Mechanism Global Fund Nigeria at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday 14th February, 2020.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Harry Banigo (4^th Left) with the Leader, Network of People Living with Aids NEPWHAN,  Abdulkadir Ibrahim (4^th Right), the Permanent Secretary, Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr. Agba Harry (3^rd Right) and others during a Courtesy Visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt on the 14^th Feb. 2020.

Dr. Banigo who expressed the State Governments readiness to build partnership on the Global Fund Project said the funds would be useful to our people and ultimately strengthen the health system. 

According to her when the health system is strengthened it would promote socio economic development and help to improve the living standard of the people generally.

The Deputy Governor who said Governor Wike is passionate about improving health care delivery in the State noted that when the centre for Dieses Control and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria made a case for the removal of user fees for people living with HIV the Governor readily approved the waiver not only for public health facilities but for private facilities as well, which is unprecedented in the country.

In his remarks, Abdulkadir Ibrahim who led the delegation said currently Global Fund, funding request is open, stressing that as People Living with the virus it is their responsibility to ensure that their State Government should be the one driving the response that has to do with the healthcare system of the Country.

He said it was on that bases that NEPWHAN cried to Global Fund to make that advocacy but regretted that the implementing partners do not carry the State Governments along.

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