By SAIDU ADAMU
JALINGO- The Centre For Initiative and Development (CFID), a non-governmental organisation, says it has conducted HIV tests for more than 5,000 children and their caregivers in three pilot local government areas in Taraba.
The Executive Director of the initiative in Taraba, Dr Danjuma Adda, said that the exercise was part of efforts to tackle the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among the identified groups in Karim-Lamido, Sardauna and Ussa local government areas.
Adda who is also the President, World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), spoke at a review meeting in Jalingo on Thursday.
Adda said that of the number tested, 162 cases results turned out positive while the remaining were negative.
He said that the organisation was doing everything possible to ensure that the positive cases were receiving the needed care and treatment at the closest medical facilities around them.
He also noted that the project was aimed at closing the gap in retention in HIV care among children living with HIV and their caregivers in Taraba.
“The project hopes to conduct targeted capacity building and system strengthening activities for health care workers, community volunteers, including people living with HIV, to deliver stigma-free and friendly HIV care services in all target locations in the state.
“This will also check the prevalence of the disease among the most vulnerable groups in the state,” Adda said.
He noted that besides the HIV tests, the organisation was also conducting free test for hepatitis B and C in the three pilot local government areas with support from Reaching Impact, Saturation&Epidemic (RISE), State Ministry of Health, State Action Committee on HIV/AIDS and other partners.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Centre For Initiative and Development (CFID) is a global organisation with interest in health and other sections of human development which is currently working in 13 states across the country.(NAN)
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