AKSACA tasks religious leaders to encourage HIV testing, treatment among followers

The Akwa Ibom State Agency for the Control of AIDS, AKSACA has urged religious leaders in the state to encourage their members especially, pregnant women to go for HIV tests and take up the care and services if tested positive.

The Program Manager, AKSACA, Dr Enobong Akpan made the appeal in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during a sensitization workshop for Religious leaders tagged, “Mitigating Barriers to Accessing HIV Services in Akwa Ibom State: The Role of Faith-Based Leaders in Uyo Senatorial District.”

Akpan who described religious leaders such as Pastors, Imams and Priests as closest to the people said they command much respect from their members hence the need for them to tell members to take up HIV services in their communities.

He noted that such would, to a large extent help the state in achieving HIV epidemic control even as he urged them to take ownership and responsibility in the ongoing fight against the virus.

Dr Akpan further noted that the HIV prevalence rate in Akwa Ibom remains at 5.5 percent, the highest in Nigeria, noting that the aim of sensitizing the religious leaders was to prevent new transmission while the state continues taking care of the existing positive cases.

His words, “In line with the ARISE agenda of Governor Umo Eno especially, in the area of health, we discovered the important role religious leaders play in the overall control of HIV in the state. We want them to pass on the right information on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services that are available in the state to their subjects. We are targeting leaders that operate healing homes and churches.”

He thanked UNAIDS, ECEWS and other implementing partners for their commitment and dedication to ensuring that the communities achieve infection-free status by 2030 by promoting unfettered access to HIV prevention, care, treatment and support services.

On his part, the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Bishop Chris Nyong urged AKSACA to take a step further to meet with the leaders of different blocs in the Association such as Catholics, Protestants, Pentecostals among others who would step down the messages to their members for greater impact.

Mrs Emem Xavier speaking on the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of the disease focused on Traditional Birth Attendants (PMTCT-TBA) and encouraged pregnant women to go to health facilities for antenatal and deliveries.

He said this would allow them to be tested for HIV and managed properly if they test positive, and to avoid transmission of the virus from an infected mother to her child.