The Nasarawa State Aids Control Agency (NASACA), has advocated for an effective collaboration with the Nasarawa State House of Assembly through increase in budgetary allocation towards achieving effective implementation of the State anti- stigmatization law.
The Executive Director, NASACA Dr. Ruth Bello made the appeal when the agency paid a courtesy visit to the Nasarawa State House of Assembly Standing Committee on Health in Lafia today.
Bello said that increasing budgetary allocation for HIV/AIDs would not only tackle stigmatisation but would also tackle the menace in the state.
Bello disclosed that this year alone, out of the twenty two thousand HIV positive persons (22,000) who are not on drugs, the agency has succeeded in tracing and placing back on drugs over fifteen thousand pesons (15,000).
She thanked the committee members for being up and doing in supporting the activities of the Agency and appealed for more funding in the fight against the spread of HIV and Aids in the state.
Responding, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Usman Labaran Shafa thanked the Executive Director, and the entire members of the Agency for the visit and urged them to remain focuse in the fight and control of the spread of HIV in the State.
Labaran Shafa, who was represented by Hon. Suleiman Abdulaziz Danladi noted that the committee will always put in it’s best for the agency to succeed.
“Ours is to make laws and pass resolutions that will touch our people positively and this law was passed in the state. It is now the responsibility of not just the executive arm of government but all of us to ensure effective implementation of the State anti- stigmatization law,” he said.
He equally called on the agency to redouble it’s efforts on the areas of sensitization and awareness campaign aimed at controlling the spread of the disease in the state.
The chairman also assured the agency of adequate support to succeed.
