By Mustapha Usman, Kano
The Kano State Agency for the Control of AIDS, SACA, is supervising the treatment of about 17,379 women living with HIV in the state to ensure they live healthy lives devoid of complications and stigma.
The director general of SACA, Usman Bashir, disclosed this on Wednesday in Kano while observing this year’s International Women’s Day.
Mr Bashir, a consultant public health physician, called on women to recognise the day, tagged ‘Be Bold for Change’, to make bold changes to their behaviours and avoid actions that would expose them to HIV.
He said 1,443 pregnant women were prevented from transmitting the virus to their children through antenatal and postnatal care across the delivery centres last year.
The director-general also said the agency last month organized Multi Diseases Medical Outreach in 12 local government areas.
According to him, 14,042 women were tested on HIV, diabetes and hypertension freely during the outreach.
Mr Bashir also said drugs were given to those identified with diseases during the outreach free of charge.
The director general then appreciated the efforts of the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, in purchasing HIV testing kits and Anti-Retroviral, ARV drugs worth N24million, which were distributed to counselling centres across the state.
