Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State has said there were about 38,000 unidentified people living with Human Immune Virus, HIV, in the state, adding that the prevalence rate, which placed the state above the 1.4 percent, was saddening.
Governor Ihedioha made the revelation yesterday in Owerri, while annoucing free treatment for all persons living with HIV, in the state, in a scheme termed Antiretroviral Therapy, ART, Surge Response.
According to him, “we are saddened with the statistics of the prevalence rate in the state. We are fully committed to identifying the 38,000 persons said to be living with HIV, and enlisting them for treatment.
“All fees previously charged by government medical establishments for the treatment of HIV are, hereby, banned. Any government official or employee that violates this directive would face commensurate sanction.”
