Writers Against AIDS Calls Upon President Tinubu to Probe NACA's Accounts

 

WRITERS AGAINST AIDS CALLS UPON PRESIDENT TINUBU TO PROBE NACA'S ACCOUNTS

 

Writers Against AIDS (WAAIDS) has made a fervent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to initiate a thorough investigation into the financial affairs of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA). This call comes in light of recent developments surrounding the appointment of Dr. Temitope Ilori as the new Director-General of NACA by President Tinubu.

WAAIDS, represented by its Coordinator, Wole Adedoyin, stressed the critical importance of ensuring transparency and accountability within governmental organizations, particularly those tasked with addressing pressing public health concerns such as HIV/AIDS. The organization believes that a comprehensive probe into NACA's accounts is necessary to safeguard public trust and ensure that allocated funds are utilized effectively and efficiently.

President Tinubu's recent appointment of Dr. Temitope Ilori as the head of NACA has prompted WAAIDS to raise concerns regarding the agency's financial management practices. As a prominent advocacy group dedicated to combating HIV/AIDS and supporting affected communities, WAAIDS is committed to ensuring that governmental institutions responsible for addressing this global health issue operate with the highest standards of integrity and accountability.

WAAIDS emphasized that the fight against HIV/AIDS requires not only medical interventions but also robust governance mechanisms to ensure that resources are utilized judiciously. The organization contends that any lapses or irregularities in the financial management of NACA could undermine the effectiveness of efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and jeopardize the well-being of millions of people living with the virus.

The appointment of Dr. Temitope Ilori presents an opportune moment for President Tinubu's administration to demonstrate its commitment to transparency and good governance. WAAIDS urges President Tinubu to seize this opportunity by initiating a comprehensive investigation into NACA's accounts, with a focus on identifying any potential financial mismanagement or discrepancies.

WAAIDS reaffirmed its unwavering support for initiatives aimed at combating HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and stands ready to collaborate with the government in fostering transparency and accountability within NACA and other relevant agencies. The organization remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for the rights and well-being of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS and calls upon all stakeholders to prioritize the effective management of resources in the fight against this epidemic.

Finally, Writers Against AIDS reiterates its appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to heed the call for a probe into NACA's accounts and take decisive action to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in the administration of public funds allocated for combating HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

Writers Against AIDS (WAAIDS) is a leading advocacy group dedicated to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and supporting affected communities through creative expression and grassroots initiatives. Founded in 2011, WAAIDS brings together writers, artists, activists, and community leaders to promote education, prevention, and advocacy efforts aimed at combating HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and beyond.

Delta Commits N100m To Fight HIV

Delta Commits N100m To Fight HIV

January 10, 2020 By AGENCY News, Jerry Emmanson

Delta Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, said the state government would commit N100 million to fight the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the state.

The governor made this known at the launch of HIV SURGE in Asaba on Thursday.

He urged that all hands must be on deck to check the HIV scourge, and warned that nobody should collect fees of any kind on HIV cases.

He also directed the state government-owned media houses not to collect any fee for HIV-related campaigns.

Okowa announced that laws against stigmatization and victimization of HIV patients would be promulgated in the state soon.

He said that HIV Testing Services should be given top priority, particularly in rural communities, saying that local areas were critical to the overall HIV/AIDS response and services.

“Let me assure all of you of my administration’s readiness to creating an enabling environment and support for all HIV/AIDS programmes.

“I am taking up the fight Against HIV/AIDS as one of my administration’s top priorities; we are committing the sum of N100 million to ensure that our people, especially those who are in the riverside communities are reached.

“We will treat unkindly anybody who charges users fee for HIV treatment both in the secondary and our primary health facilities.

“The Delta State Government has been offering free maternal services for all pregnant women and under-five children in the State through its equity plan in the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, which includes free HIV test and counseling.

“Equally, the government has been making funds available to the State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, for the procurement of HIV test kits and consumables to fill in emerging gaps in some of our facilities and support to partners,” he said.

The governor added that Delta State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, which was critical in all HIV/AIDS matters, had been repositioned to effectively coordinate all HIV/AIDS activities in the State.

According to him, we are working to ensure that the legislature makes law against the stigmatization and victimization of people living with the HIV.

“Media houses in the state should not collect money for any publication or materials for radio and television that will create more awareness for the HIV.

“I wish to reiterate my earlier call for more partners and stakeholders, including friends of the State, to join hands to make Delta State HIV-free and provide succour to those already living with the virus.

“More than ever before, this is the time to redouble our commitments to tackling the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the State,” he stated.

Okowa expressed gratitude to United States Government through her PEPFAR programme, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), CARITAS Nigeria, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Excellence Community Educational Welfare Scheme (ECWES).

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs) for their collaboration, assistance and privileges extended to the State over the years towards eradicating and working to attain zero HIV.

Also commended were Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs).

“I call on all Deltans to massively make themselves available for HIV testing.

“For those that are HIV positive, they have the opportunity of being enrolled into treatment immediately because, you can live a normal and positive life with HIV and these services are free,” Okowa said.

The United States Government through its Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, Kathleen FitzGibbon, called for sustained effort to identify and put People Living with HIV (PLHIV) on life-saving Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).

She said that it would ensure that PLHIV live a long, normal, productive, and healthy life and help in breaking the transmission of the virus.

FitzGibbon also pledged the U.S. Government’s support to the people of Delta, especially in the identification and provision of treatment to approximately 63,000 people living with HIV, in addition to the over 17,500 people already receiving such treatment through the PEPFAR program in the state to help in moving the state towards HIV epidemic control by September 2020.

https://leadership.ng/2020/01/10/delta-commits-n100m-to-fight-hiv/?fbclid=IwAR1o_TIFeAouWJ65o1VOpTsj5YlPxMNCXdM1mKbkTifUtzGx6bVVvhhaJHU

WAAIDS asks EFCC to probe state agencies for the control of AIDS across the country for financial frauds

WAAIDS ASKS EFCC TO PROBE STATE AGENCIES FOR THE CONTROL OF AIDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR FINANCIAL FRAUDS

The Writers Against AIDS has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe  and investigate the financial transactions of state agencies for the control of HIV/AIDS across the country headed majorly by some wives of few states governors.

According to WAAIDS, It is no more news that Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and is home to the third largest number of persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Poverty, stigma, embezzlement of HIV/AIDS grant funds, discrimination and a poorly coordinated health system constitute major barriers to HIV treatment and prevention efforts in some states.

This was contained in a press release issued and signed by the national coordinator of the group, Mr. Wole Adedoyin in Ibadan on Sunday after a strategic meeting with some stakeholders in the state.

According to WAAIDS, the HIV funds which ought to have been used in taken care of people living with AIDS were either diverted into an unknown account for selfish purpose or used for an unknown activities, whereas hundreds of people living with HIV/AIDS are dying every day. In some states, Chairmanship and membership into the State’s agency for the control of HIV/AIDS is now political.

 As some politicians think it is an avenue of making their millions not minding hundreds and thousands of lives begging for care, attention and medication.

“It is our opinion that the agency for the control of AIDS should be headed by medical practitioners who are well versed in the field and not the wives of elected state governors who have seen the position as their constitutional rights”

“It should also be noted that every new infections starts with someone who is already infected. New infections occur because infected persons do not take the necessary precautions or because of poorly organized protective services. Patients are also not being sufficiently educated on their responsibility to prevent the spread of HIV and are not being included in protective service. HIV diagnosis is a traumatic experience that significantly changes a person’s life. Many people in Nigeria are still unaware of their status; these and others should be the watchwords of those agencies at the state level but they failed to discharge them .”

“We are therefore calling on EFCC to beam their searchlight and investigate fraudulent activities going on in some of these states agencies. Their accounts should be audited. Valuable lives of people living with HIV/AIDS are wasting every day for political reasons.