Mohammed Shosanya
The Oyo State Government, through the Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA) has urged Healthcare Centres providing Comprehensive HIV treatment, care and support to People Living with HIV (PLHIV) across the State to enhance their performance.
The agency’s Chairman, Dr. Gbola Adetunji,gave the charge recently during a working visit to some treatment sites in the state.
He stated that the agency is conducting the visits to familiarize herself with the centres, identify challenges, and determine areas where OYSACA can provide assistance.
He admonished the centres to maintain a friendly demeanor towards PLHIV and frequently educate them that being HIV positive does not mean the end of life and emphasized that PLHIV can live healthy long lives if they adhere to treatment and follow prescriptions.
He advised individuals to regularly check their HIV status using free and voluntary testing facilities available at Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs), State Healthcare Centres, and select Private Healthcare Centres cut across the State. The Chairman stressed further that HIV testing is the only means to confirm their status.
In their separate responses, the ART Coordinators at the visited centres appreciated the Agency’s timely actions and steps, appealing to the Chairman to address the issue of inadequate test kits facing some centres, facilitate and resuscitate of support groups of PLHIV accessing treatment and care in their facilities.
They thanked Governor Seyi Makinde for appointing Dr. Gbola Adetunji as OYSACA Board Chairman, believing his wealth of experience would enhance the agency’s activities and visibility.
The visited sites included Comfort Medical Centre, Total Garden, Idi-Ogungun Primary Health Care Centre, Agodi Gate, Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital (AMTH), Yemetu all located in Ibadan.