From TCNEWS
Dr. Uloaku Emma-Ukaegbu, the Director General of Abia State Agency For The Control of HIV/AIDS (ABSACA) has disclosed that prevalence rate of HIV infection in Abia State is still at 2.1 percent according to 2018 National survey report among States and the age bracket in the figure is between 15 and 64 years.
Speaking in Umuahia, during a one-day sensitization workshop on emerging issues on HIV/AIDs prevention organized for selected media workers in Abia State, the ABSACA boss revealed that Ukwa East ranks first in prevalence in the local government with 2.48 percent in both sexes, Ikwuano LGA 2.38 percent and Obingwa LGA accounting for 2.29 percent prevalence rate.

She also listed the local governments in Abia State with the lowest prevalence rate as Umuahia North 1.17 percent, Ohafia LGA 1.25 percent, Bende LGA 1.28 percent, and Isuikwuato LGA 1.28 percent.
The DG who identified stigma as one of the factors that can obstruct the fight against the spread of the disease, said her office has been collaborating with concerned government ministries, religious leaders, communities and schools correcting every misconception about HIV infections in the State.

Dr. Emma-Ukaegbu, who tasked the media practitioners to see themselves as critical stakeholders in the fight against the scourge, appealed to them to help in the campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS.
She encouraged the media houses to, through its programs, pass the right information about HIV/AIDS, as well as apply appropriate languages and images.
She also advised churches, religious bodies and employers in the State against subjecting people living with HIV in the State to rejection or other form of discriminations.
The DG who called for a national policy that will motivate the manufacturing of HIV treatment drugs in the country, said that there are sustained campaigns to prevent mother-to -child infection of HIV in Abia.
While commending Governor Alex Otti’s response to HIV matters in the state, she expressed optimism that with the huge progress made so far in HIV/AIDS response, the scourge would drastically reduce by 2030.
She also encouraged those living with the HIV not to abandon their medications as doing so could lead to resurgence in viral loads.
Ukaegbu, who also said that HIV/AIDS is not over in the State and Nigeria, advised that people must avoid illicit sex, among other practices that exposes them to HIV.
She maintained that the seminar has become necessary to reduce new infections, stigma, and discrimination against people living with Hiv/Aids and to do away with lifestyles that negate the efforts to reduce HIV spread.

Also speaking, the Director of Prevention and Mobilisation in the Agency, Mrs. Ekeoma Akidi, advised people to always ascertain their HIV status and stressed the need to discontinue the use of derogatory words to describe the scourge which has increased the stigma.
She pointed out that one cannot contact the virus by associating with someone living with the disease but through blood contact.
In her presentation Mrs Munachi Aguamba, noted that HIV is not a death sentence, emphasizing the need to address stigma and discrimination against people living with the scourge.
Also, Mrs Ekeoma Akidi and Munachi Aguomba of ABSACA lamented that derogatory names were given to persons living with HIV in the media while some communities demand the transfer of any teacher found to be living with HIV, saying that such harmful practices must stop.
