FEATURED
People Living With HIV/AIDS In Bauchi State Seek Government’s Intervention In Treatment Cost
The Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, Bauchi State chapter, on Tuesday sought the state government’s intervention in the treatment of members to curtail health complications among them.
Coordinator of the network, Mr Abdullahi Ibrahim said this in Bauchi that the N3,000 cost of the biannual haematology screening had scared members away from attending clinics.
He added that members could no longer access free supplements and anti- malarial drugs in dedicated facilities since 2014.
“The cost of treatment is a burden to our members as only the antiretroviral drugs and sometimes Septrin, an anti-malarial, are provided to patients free by development partners.
“Our members visit primary healthcare centres for drugs only since the haematology screening is conducted only at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH).
“The idea is that, if a house head has dependants that are all positive for the virus, he cannot afford to pay the bills.
“This will make the family members’ health to deteriorate.
“People with HIV are to go through haematology screening after every six months and the charge at ATBUTH is N3,000.
“We are grateful to the present Chief Medical Director at ATBUTH who slashed the amount by 50 per cent to support us.
“If a client does not take the test, he or she will not know his or her condition,’’ Ibrahim said.
The coordinator acknowledged that the state government was committed to the fight against the spread of the disease.
Ibrahim also lamented the dearth of public enlightenment information about the virus in local communities and in media outlets.
He said that signposts and other visual materials were no longer available to create awareness about HIV.
The coordinator urged health workers to do more on information around mother-to-child transmission of the virus.
He said that health workers should be abreast with current information to ensure that babies were born free of the virus.
“Childbirth is another channel for transmitting the virus, the information is there in the dedicated facilities.
“We expect that quality and genuine information should come from health workers to stem new infections,’’ he said.
NAPTIP, Next2None Sign MOU on Africa’s First Intl Fashion Show to Fight Global Human Trafficking
Ex-Delta First Lady Roli Uduaghan Joins Oborevwori, Okowa to Bid Otumara Emotional Farewell in Warri
Malami, Ogboru, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour Lead as ADC Unleashes Political Heavyweights for 28 Governorship Slots ahead of 2027
Atiku to Tinubu: Release Your FBI Files, I Have Nothing to Hide
Abducted Delta Woman Rescued as Police Arrest 8 Suspects in Abraka
NYSC Sets September 8 for Physical Verification of Foreign-Trained Graduates
Your Sacrifice Matters — VeryDarkMan Apologises to Troops Over NBA Conference Outburst
Okowa’s Senate Bid: Why Experience, Party Structures May Give Him an Edge Over Ochei in Delta North
Defence Minister Musa Blasts El-Rufai, Accuses Ex-Governor of Dividing Kaduna
2027: Isoko North LGA’s City Boys Movement Meet Ogorugba, Declares Support for Tinubu, Oborevwori’s Re-election Bid
Delta Police Arrest 6 Suspects, Dismantle Illicit Drugs Shop
Why DSS DG Draws the Line: ‘No More Arrests Over Civil Disputes’
Tinubu Not Facing Criminal Case in US, Presidency Clarifies FOIA Litigation
PenCom Raises Alarm as PFAs Sink N17.1trn Pension Funds Into FG Securities
