HIV/AIDS prevalence rate hits 8.7% in Anambra

Fear has gripped the people in Anambra State over the rise in the rate of the dreaded HIV/AIDS disease.
This is following the revelation by the Executive Director, Anambra State Aids Control Agency, (ANSACA), Dr O.J Ndibe that the prevalence rate has hit 8.7 percent in the state.
Speaking at a public presentation and the adoption of the state Monitoring and Evaluation plan on HIV intervention organized by Measure and Evaluation, Implementation partners and the Anambra State government in Awka, Thursday, Dr Ndibe disclosed that the State ranks 4th in the country, stressing that the report was based on the 2014 survey.

According to Dr. Ndibe, to check the rising trend of new HIV cases, ANSACA has adopted a multi sectoral HIV response by synergizing with UNICEF, FH1360, PPFN, Local Action Committees in Aids, Civil Societies and the media, for proper grassroots sensitization.
He said the plan was produced by the Anambra Aids Control Agency (ANSACA) with Technical and financial support by Measure Evaluation, adding that it will go a long way to sensitize the public on HIV/AIDS.
Speaking at the occasion, the state Commissioner for health, Dr Joe Akubuike said that the state has joined the league of states in Nigeria that has produced a monitoring and evaluation plan in HIV intervention.

Dr. Joe Akabuike noted that “when programme is pragmatically planned, it is very useful to put a benchmark or indicators for its assessment which should be a continuous process”.
He expressed the readiness of the State Government to build the capacity of the Measure Evaluation personnel to bring them in tune with the current global M & E trends as stipulated in the new M & E on HIV intervention.

Dr. Akabuike who was represented on the occasion by the Director of Primary Health and Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Dr. Chukwudi Okoye noted that monitoring and evaluation is not highly technical, noting that it is easy to handle when the indicators are applied in any development work.
In his contribution, the state coordinator, Measure and Evaluation, Mr. Jeff Oluwagbemigba said that the states M&E plan on HIV intervention is a well articulated document designed to facilitate proper documentation and result based road map that will positively encourage more intervention from development partners.
Mr. Oluwagbemiga, who traced process of the state M&E Plan Production, said it originated from the initial assessment of its M&E system through a 12 component global tool and the brainstorming sessions of all players in HIV response.