The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has decried the spread of HIV/AIDS in rural communities.
Its Country Director, Dr. Susan Coleman, spoke when she led a delegation of USAID Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), and Family Health International (Fhi 360) on an advocacy visit to the Government House in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday.
Dr. Coleman said the disease was still rampart among rural dwellers and called for improved effort at fighting it.
She noted the need for improved and sustained sensitisation and awareness in communities, as the disease seems to be spreading among them.
“There is need to step up the control of HIV/AIDs in the rural communities; the fight against the disease is yet to be won. Many people in the rural communities are still being infected; therefore there is need for sustained sensitisation.”
She said USAID had supported over 600,000 in Nigeria, especially orphans and vulnerable children in its 10 years in the country.
The director said the agency would continue to partner the government and relevant stakeholders to ensure improved standard of living for orphans and vulnerable children.
Five local government areas were selected for the test-run of the Agencies’ Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s (OVC), programme.
The delegation was on its way to inspect the project sites for the take-off of the pilot scheme.
Deputy Governor Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo said the government was concerned about the welfare of orphans and vulnerable children and pledged government’s partnership with the agency to ensure success.
No comments:
Post a Comment