Yenagoa—A 2019 National Aids survey conducted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has revealed that approximately 30,000 people are HIV positive in Bayelsa state, Tribuneonlineng.com reports.
Dolapo Ogundehin, Team Lead of HIV Treatment and Care, who made this known in a courtesy visit to Dr. Pabara Newton Igwele, Commissioner for Health, in Yenagoa, pointed out that from their findings 18,000 people are unaware they have the virus.
Asking for the state government’s support in making more test kits available in a bid to test more people, Ogundehin also noted that the USAID team is in the state to monitor the work of FHI 360 and the HIV patients under their care.
On his part, the Bayelsa state commissioner for Health, Dr. Pabara Newton Igwele, said the government has made significant progress in counseling and testing pregnant women with support from FHI 360.
The Commissioner, while commending the FHI 360 for its efforts, said as a result of the difficult terrain in the state, the USAID should increase funding for the FHI 360 to enable it to cover more rural areas.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Sawyer Ebiye and the Director of Public Health, Dr. Jones Stow both thanked the USAID for their support and contribution in HIV testing, counseling and treatment.
