Adamawa HIV infection drops to 0.8% for men, 1.4% for women – ADSACA

The rates of people infected with HIV in Adamawa State have dropped to 0.8 percent among men and 1.4 percent among women.

The Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Agency for the Control of AIDS (ADSACA), Mohammed Chubado Abubakar, disclosed on Wednesday that the rate is as contrasted from 7.6 percent average rate less than 20 years ago.

Abubakar who spoke during the HIV/AIDS Day in Yola, said that currently, the spread of HIV has been curtailed by 93 percent in the state.

“HIV in Adamawa is decreasing because if you look back in history, around 2003, our prevalence rate was 7.6 percent but now we are talking about 0.8 percent for men and 1.4 percent for women.

“Even the infection rate among pregnant women for 2019 has reduced to 0.1 percent. In fact, if you test 1000 women you only get 1 positive,” he said.

Abubakar expressed optimism that the ailment will be completely eradicated by 2030 in the state, especially as the introduction of a new potent drug known as Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) has been helpful.

He added that serious intervention of his agency in collaboration with international partners has paid off handsomely.

“PEP is like a miracle drug. It really suppresses the virus and we are also working to end inequalities in terms of access to service delivery.

“We are carrying out a lot of activities to eradicate the ailment in the state. There is program testing service, prevention of mother to child transmission, prevention services, prevention of new HIV infections and administration of AntiRetroviral Therapy.

“We have also introduced safe testing. In those days, you have to go to hospital to be tested and it has to be blood, now we have test you can do orally,” he added.