Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Tuesday inaugurated board members of the Oyo State Agency for the Control of Aids, OYSACA.
Among those inaugurated at the ceremony which took place at the Executive Council Chamber of the governor’s office in Ibadan was the wife of the governor, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde.
She will chair the board.
Other members of the board are drawn from government institutions and relevant associations.
While inaugurating the board, Makinde noted that dealing with HIV prevalence in the state was mportant to his administration.
He called on all relevant stakeholders to support the government’s efforts in fighting HIV/Aids even as he preached abstinence among the citizens.
“Though, there have been lots of anti retroviral drugs, but abstinence is still the best way to fight the scourge in our society.
“Our administration is going to be forward looking. Whatever has happened in the past is gone, we just have to focus more on delivering a better society for our people,” he said.
The governor expressed confidence in newly inaugurated board members, saying they would give their best in the new assignment.
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The OYSACA board Chairperson, Mrs. Makinde, speaking after the inauguration said with team work, the board would deliver on its mandate.
“I am very sure that with team work, we will get the best results. So, I enjoin other members to embrace this so we can deliver on our mandate excellently,” she said.
OYSACA Project Manager, Dr. Olukayode Ogunkunle, in his comments said that the state had made remarkable progress in scaling up HIV treatment and prevention services in recent times.
According to him, such had impacted positively on the prevalence rate in the state, which was put at 0.9 per cent in the Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) in 2019.
He however noted that the state was not yet satisfied with where it is.
“The strategic target in Oyo State is 95:95:95. This means 95 per cent of all people living with HIV in Oyo State will know their HIV status.
“The second 95 is that all people diagnosed of HIV infection will receive sustained anti retroviral therapy while the third 95 is that all people receiving anti retroviral therapy will have viral suppression,” he said.
