Charles Ekanem|3 October 2017
The Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu during the transition meeting of Cross River State SHiPs for MARPs program with key stakeholders said on behalf of the Executive Governor, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade and the Honorable Commissioner for Health Dr Inyang Asibong she commends the Cross River State SHIPS for MARPS program of Society for Family Health (SFH) for their assistance to the State towards achieving global target of 90.90.90.
She noted that at some point Cross River State had the 2nd Highest prevalence of HIV & AIDS in Nigeria, but she is happy that now Cross River is nowhere around the first 5.
Dr Edu said the interesting part of the program is the fact that it is a community-base program because some persons will never come to the health centers to test for HIV except we meet them wherever they are, the churches, the market square, houses and where they are comfortable living their normally lives.
According to her the program pays attention to groups which society does not embrace like gay, prostitute and drug abusers. She noted that if this groups were not consciously targeted, the state HIV program would not have attain it set target.
She thanked them for introducing treatment as part of prevention by working successfully with FHI360 to ensure it works.
Finally she said that the Government of Cross River will not relent in it's effort till the day we have a generation free of HIV. we hope Heartland Alliance who will be taking over the structure form SFH, will surpass what the have done already.
Earlier Speaking, the Mr Egbe Awa, Technical Program officer noted that Cross River State SHiPs for MARPS program was carefully mapped out and a realistic steps taken to ensure it targeted special people to reduce HIV Prevalence.
Dr Ngozi Noel-Ogamba said the team will be meeting with the Honourable Commissioner for health and the entire state team to officially hand over what they have achieved in the State for sustainability and supportive supervision of their projects even though a new partner will continue from where they stop.
Present at the meeting were stakeholders drawn from across the State and representatives of the State Ministry of Health as well as the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency.
Charles Ekanem
Is a health reporter
