Governor Inuwa Yahaya has been celebrating a 48 per cent drop in HIV prevalence in Gombe.

“We celebrate the drop in HIV prevalence in Gombe state from 2.5 per cent in 2014 to 1.2 per cent in 2021,’’ said the Gombe governor. The reduction was recorded between 2014 and 2021.

To commemorate this year’s World AIDS Day, Mr Yahaya said his administration remained committed to optimal infection control.

In a statement issued by his spokesman Ismaila Uba-Misilli, the governor explained that Gombe had made tremendous progress in the prevention, treatment and care of persons affected by or infected with HIV.

He added that the reduction recorded in Gombe resulted from collective efforts between government, development partners, the UN systems, the Global Fund and Civil Society Organisations.

“In spite of the remarkable successes recorded, there are still gaps that must be filled in order to get to the last mile. We can only achieve this if we continue to work as a team. Let’s remain focused as we approach the finish line of this important race against HIV and AIDS,” Mr Yahaya stressed. “There must be deliberate efforts to move faster on a set of concrete actions agreed by UN member states to address the inequalities that are driving HIV.’”

According to the Gombe governor, AIDS remains a pandemic, and that progress made in HIV prevention and treatment is now under greater strain given the COVID-19 crisis.

“We have recently released funds for the procurement of HIV testing kits to enable testing of more than 200,000 people,” said Mr Yahaya on the issue of HIV testing.

(NAN)