Kano government procures N69 million rapid test kits to combat HIV/AIDS

The test kits are being distributed to 590 health facilities to address the prolonged challenges of being out of stock.

News Agency of Nigeria • December 1, 2023

Kano Governor Abba Yusuf [Photo Credit: Premium Times Nigeria]

The Kano government has expended N69 million on the procurement of rapid test kits to stem HIV/AIDS transmission in the state.

The commissioner for health, Dr Labaran Yusuf, stated this at a news conference to mark the 2023 World AIDS Day on Friday in Kano.

According to Mr Yusuf, the test kits are being distributed to 590 health facilities to address the prolonged challenges of being out of stock.

He said the move aims to provide universal access to testing equipment, aligning with the goal of reaching 95 per cent of the population to know their HIV status by 2025.

The commissioner mentioned that the ministry and the state agency for the control of AIDS would continue to provide intensive HIV services through the effective engagement of communities and civil society groups.

He also noted that the state government spent N5.9 million on the procurement of third-line medicines to enhance care and treatment for people living with HIV.

“On World AIDS Day, we stand in solidarity with 38 million people worldwide, including two million in Nigeria who are living with HIV and those who lost their lives to AIDS,” he said.

He described the theme of the Day, “Let Communities Lead,” as a clarion call to showcase the crucial role communities play in ending the HIV/AIDS scourge.

Mr. Yusuf reiterated the commitment of Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf to make communities frontrunners in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the state.

He said the ministry and the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA), with the support of the USAID – LHSS project, enrolled over 600 people living with HIV under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

Mr Yusuf mentioned that 4,728 out of the 138,430 persons tested positive for HIV from January to date, and 46,732 positive persons had been placed on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) in the state.

“I want to inform you that for the first time, we achieved a state HIV budget target of three per cent, N2 billion submitted to the state assembly by the governor.”

He, therefore, urged communities to champion the campaign against stigma and discrimination to enhance universal access to treatment, care, and support services.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.