Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Integrated Health Programme (CIHP), Dr Bolanle Oyeledun has revealed that new HIV infections are rising among young Nigerians aged between 20 and 29.
Oyeledun made this revelation during a one-day stakeholders’ workshop in Makurdi, Benue State on Monday.
She said “It is like a war room approach. There is need to employ the use of biological monitoring, improve quality of care and regiment. The goal standard means that every patient must get HIV test.
“The quality of service delivery must be of high standard and should be available. We must engage the youths positively. As it has done for Polio, so we must do same for HIV to reduce it to the barest minimum.”
She emphasised that zero infection for HIV was achievable especially among youths if the focus of the message is treatment as prevention.
Oyeledun urged the leadership of the CIPH in Benue not to relent in efforts to reduce the prevalence of new infections in the state.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr Cecilia Ojabo, said government’s target is to reduce the infection to zero level.
Ojabo said “If you reduce the infection amongst the youths, then the society will be free.”