Gbolahan Salman Sokoto
The Federal Government of Nigeria, National Agency for the Control of Aids, State Agency for the Control of Aids leprosy and Tuberculosis, NEPWHAN and other donors agencies working in the state organized the training with aims to develop capacity of key and vulnerable men, women and young persons in some important areas.
Some of the areas include, Basic facts of HIV/AIDs in Nigeria, Gender and HIV/AIDS issues among PLHIV, and key populations and other vulnerable groups.
Others are Identification of key gender and human right issues in the state HIV/AIDS response, HIV targeted index testing and linkage to care.
It also includes Gender Based Violence, types and consequences, standards and procedures, among other issues.
Speaking while declaring the workshops open, Director General NACA, Dr Gambo Aliyu Gumel from Abuja, thanked the organizers, Sokoto state government and all other relevant bodies.
He commended the Nigerian government for sustaining the campaign against HIV/AIDS despite the pandemic of COVID-19.
Dr Gambo informed the gathering that Nigeria is among the only six countries that continue with HIV program when the Corona Virus hit the world, with 279,000 HIV/AIDS Victims identified and palaced them on drugs within the period.
He pleaded with all the participants to pay more attention to the training and learn from the facilitators.
Earlier in his remarks, the state Commissioner of Health, Dr Mohammad Ali Inname, commended NACA DG and other organizers for choosing Sokoto state for the programme.
Dr Inname assured that Sokoto State government under the leadership of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is at forefront in supporting all the needs of vulnerable and special groups in the state.
He said the state created Sokoto state contributory health care management agency to carter for vulnerable groups with affordable and adequate health care services.
Several goodwill messages during the opening ceremony also comes from, E.S SOSACAT Mal Umar Bello Alkanmawa, S.A NGOs Ubaida Bello, NEPWHAN national coordinator, NEPWHAN State chapter among others.
