HIV prevalence reduced from 10.5% to 2.9% in Taraba – State govt

Reports say there has been a reduction in the prevalence of HIV in Taraba State, following efforts of donor partners and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

The Director General of the State HIV/AIDS Control Agency (TACA), Dr. Garba Danjuma, said this in a speech he presented during the World AIDS Day commemoration in Jalingo.

He said the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the state as of 2012 was 10.5% but has now reduced to 2.9% following the Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS)of 2018.

Danjuma said the collaborative efforts of the state government, implementing partners and CSOs who have been working to prevent the spread of the virus helped achieve the feat.

Saying it is possible to attain zero prevalence in the state, he called on critical stakeholders, partners and the media to join hands with the agency to permanently end the virus in Taraba.

”With the commemoration of WAD all partners, CSOs, and line ministries are enjoined to develop and implement targeted activities, especially among key populations.”

”Living behind sex workers, persons who inject drugs, transgender, persons in correctional centres, would be injurious to the fight against the virus, he warned.