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.
Tinubu’s Reforms Boost Investor Confidence as Foreign Firms Profit in Nigeria — EU Envoy
Presidency Fires Back at Obi, Says Tinubu’s Resignation Call Is ‘Childish and Misplaced’
Lagos Police Arrest 243, Foil 28 Robbery Operations
Tinubu May Seek Attorney-General’s Advice on S’Court as Ayirimi Says INEC Has Defied Presidential Order on Warri Wards
Abuja Court Remands Sowore After Bail Revocation, Adjourns Trial
UPDATED: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Resigns but Will Stay on as Caretaker Amid Political Turmoil
Troops Tighten Noose on Oyo Kidnappers as Abductors Scale Back Demands
Fear in North-West as Bello Turji Allegedly Acquires Advanced Weapons, Sets Up Terror Training Camp
HOSCON Accuses NNPC ‘Cabals’ of Starving Tantita of Funds to Fuel Oil Theft
Delta Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists in Ibusa, Recover Guns, Cartridges, Illegal Drugs
Man Dies in Brother’s Hands Over Slipper Dispute
‘Our Quest for Separate Ijala Ward Non-negotiable’ – Four Itsekiri Communities Demand from INEC
Oborevwori Congratulates Oyebanji as Ekiti Governor Breaks One-Term Jinx
Oyebanji Hails Re-Election as Vote of Confidence in Tinubu, Vows Greater Progress for Ekiti
