Health week: ARD takes HIV campaign to Abuja community

FCT ARD President Dr.  Isaac Akerele, flanked by other ARD officers, at the press conference.

By Adeola Tukuru, Abuja

Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory under the aegis of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) FCT today took the campaign on HIV awareness to the  Abuja Municipal Area Council in commemoration of its Health week.

The President of the Association, Dr Isaac Akerele, in a media chat in Abuja explained that the association was embarking on the campaign to educate Nigerians on how to play safe as they will distribute condoms, free HIV testing and treatment and other materials in addition to counselling .

According to him, all Federal Government hospitals will be activated to treat People with HIV and carry out free testing and treatment in partnership with Red cross , UNAID and other agencies.

He explained that other part of the activities to mark the Health week will include  Road walk from Area 10, Area 11 and the Federal Secretariat , advocacy , free testing, treatment for patients and counselling .

Akerele further disclosed that the association will be emphasising commitment of ownership on HIV care, lamenting that patients with this deadly virus can’t access the health care due to lack of funding .

He explained doctors are advocating committing of ownership so as to work and ensure that the federal government gives enough capacity to the community, NGOs, WHO to administer free HIV care.

“This committing ownership will help in administering HIV drugs to patients, keep appointment with them and reminding them when they need to take their drugs. We also need to train those who are in our cadre to assist at the level of the community,” he said.

Akerele laud members of the association, the management and also the Minister of the FCT for approving land for doctors , clearing of arrears and also keeping of doctors, urging the minister to make the Certificate of Ownership (C of O) of lands allocated them accessible.