Oyo State Govt Vows to Reduce to Zero Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, Takes Advocacy to Community Leaders

Oyo state government has pledged to intensify effort in reducing to zero level the prevalence rate of mother to child transmission of HIV in the state through comprehensive community engagement.

The executive secretary of the state’s Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA), Dr Lanre Abass expresses this commitment during an advocacy workshop for religious leaders, community leaders and traditional birth attendants in the state

Dr Abass who explains that efforts are geared towards driving the message to the grassroot, emphasizes that the commitment of the state government is to ensure no child born in the state test positive to HIV and called on community heads to mobilize pregnant women in their domain to various health centers for safe, free medication and care to prevent HIV positive birth even if the mothers are positive.

Speaking at the event, principal programme officer of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) Mrs. Adepeju Odulami, acknowledges that though Oyo state has a low HIV prevalence rate, but that the agency is committed to ensuring that women of child bearing age are duly sensitized to meet the target of an end to HIV/AIDS by 2030.

In their various remarks, traditional and religious heads present at the event, endorse the advocacy drive and promise to sensitize their followers to key into the advocacy.

Lectures, presentation of data and reports from resource persons to educate the participants are highpoints of the workshop.