The recent celebration of the World AIDS Day on 1st of December marks the long commemoration of the first global health day in 1988. The 2018 celebration with the theme “Know Your Status” in Cross River state kicked off with a City Walk Against HIV/AIDS led by The President Mediatrix Development Foundation and Wife of the State Governor, Dr. Mrs. Linda Ayade.
According to the Cross River State Government, the HIV prevalence rate for urban areas is 7.7% and that of rural areas is 4.2%. This rate according to SACA may improve, following the recently concluded National HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) in the state.
Speaking shortly after a long walk Dr. Mrs. Linda Ayade, the wife of Governor and the President and founder Mediatrix Development Foundation, MDF an NGO that champions the creation of awareness and care for HIV/AIDS in the state urged citizens to know their status.
"Knowing your status is important. Since the inception of the monstrous disease, we cannot count the untimely deaths that it has brought to our society. We want to let you know that at MDF, we are doing everything to ensure that we succeed. And if any Cross Riverian should die of HIV/AIDS today, you killed yourself, for the drugs are now available and totally free." Adding that “HIV/AIDS has had a devastating effect on families, cutting lives short and so we would continue to fight HIV/AIDS to ensure it is completely eradicated” while promising to work more with development partners to achieve our goals in this fight.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong on her part said the state is working round the clock to ensure everyone knows their HIV/AIDS status. She gave a rundown of some LGAs doing well to reduce the prevalence rate of the disease.
On their part, the major sponsors of the event, Lafarge Africa Plc, renewed their pledge to partner with the government and people of Cross river State to reduce of the impact of the disease. In an address from Lafarge’s Group Managing Director/CCEO, Michel Pucercos, the company noted that “the fight against HIV/AIDS was one of the key objectives of our sustainability strategy (the 2030 plan) which emphasizes on ‘People and Communities’ believing we can achieve a safe and healthy community in Cross River State as well as globally”.
Other partners present at the event were the Cross River State Ministry of Health, Cross River SACA, Cross River State Primary Health Development Agency, MWAN, LOPIN 3, HeartLand Alliance, Save The Children CRINPWHAN and a host of others.
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