Posted by The Port Harcourt Telegraph on
Bonny appears to be the worst hit by the deadly disease, the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV), according to an expert investigation, among other communities in Rivers State. It has 8.2 per cent.
Bonny appears to be the worst hit by the deadly disease, the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV), according to an expert investigation, among other communities in Rivers State. It has 8.2 per cent.
Other areas such as Degema has 8.0 per cent while Port Harcourt and Bori have 7.0 and 7.9 per cents respectively.
In a paper presented by Dr. Okey Ibeabuchi, Medical Director of Palmers Clinic, Port Harcourt at a kick-out AIDS in your life awareness campaign, organized by the youths in Nigeria at the College of Education, St. John's campus last Friday, said an estimated 200,000 persons are currently infected by the disease in the state.
Dr. Ibeabuchi in his paper titled "What is HIV/AIDS", also disclosed that about 5.5 million Nigerians are infected by the disease who are within the age group of 15-49 years, noting that the disease had caused untold hardship to developing nations in the world particularly in Africa.
The medical director who strongly suggested the use of condom regretted that only few African nations had adopted serious approach in solving the problem due to "planlessness, bad governance and poverty. We can only hope for the invention of a HIV/AIDS vaccine which when taken would confer an immunity against HIV".
Also speaking, the State Commissioner of Sports, Chief Allwell Onyesoh urged Nigerians to complement the efforts of government by observing safe health habits that relate to sexual behaviours.
Chief Onyesoh called on youths to form health clubs for enlightenment so as to kick-out AIDS in the country and assured the organizers of the campaign of government's support.
The commissioner pointed out that the government has invested much in material and human resources to ensure effective dissemination of information on the dangers associated with the virus and solicited the assistance of media practitioners.
In his speech, the National President of Youths in Nigeria, Mr. Bright Aleruchi said that the body was committed to reducing HIV scourge in the country and urged all Nigerians to join force with them in the campaign.