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The National Orientation Agency, NOA, Anambra State Directorate, and the World Health Organization (WHO), Anambra State Office have agreed to collaborate in combating spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, with particular focus on Anambra State.
State Director of NOA, Barr. Lady Ifeoma Chijioke made the disclosure during her visit with some management staff of the Agency to the Anambra State Coordinator of WHO, Dr. Bonos Mohammed in his office in Awka.
She expressed concern over the rising prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country and noted that available statistics had shown that Benue State ranks first, Cross River second, and Anambra fifth among states with the highest prevalence of the disease in Nigeria.
“My concern is that some health workers are complaining about the non-availability of funds. Most of our people have died out of ignorance due to lack of awareness creation at the grassroots by the concerned authorities,” she said.
The NOA boss noted that the Agency is leveraging its ongoing Community Engagement Programme in the 788 communities of the State to sensitize Ndi Anambra on the dangers of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the State and the country at large.
“NOA is ready to partner with WHO in the fight against this scourge in the State. All we are asking for is for you to make your educational materials available to our Agency for our awareness programmes in every part of the State,” she pleaded.
Receiving the NOA team, the WHO State Coordinator, Dr. Bonos Mohammed described the visit as timely, especially as the country battles to reduce the scourge to the barest minimum.
He urged the leadership of NOA in Anambra State to develop a functional work plan to guide the collaboration between the two organizations as they take the message to every nook and cranny of the State.
While appreciating NOA for the visit, Mohammed noted that Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration has established an Agency saddled with the responsibility of HIV/AIDS management in the State.
He stressed that the Agency’s mandate aligns with that of NOA in the State and Nigeria at large.
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